Ms Sarah Lennon:

My colleague and I will share time. Education Equality was formally launched more than 12 months ago. In that time we have gathered almost 500 members, each of whom represents a family which has or is experiencing discrimination on the basis of religion.

Education Equality is an entirely voluntary organisation. Our efforts are focused on the twin goals of removing legalised discrimination in terms of access to school places and promoting equal respect for all children during the school day. We work on the principle that equal respect for children and for the beliefs of their parents requires equal access to schools, regardless of religion. We want the ability to choose whether a child receives religious instruction and a curriculum that does not impose the beliefs of one religion on children of different religions or of no religion.

I will hand over to my colleague, Mr. Paddy Monahan, to speak about our twin goals in more depth before I conclude with some of the voices of the families who have been in contact with us during the past 12 months.