Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their submissions and presentation. I will take questions from all members before we revert to the witnesses.

I have a number of questions, one of which has not been spoken about. I get a great many e-mails from people in the locality of a school who have been excluded on the basis that siblings or the children of parents who attended that school get a higher priority, even though they have to travel back to it. This is not a religious barrier but an access barrier.

There is a view that religious discrimination is to protect the faith school minorities.

Perhaps Ms Donnelly, on behalf of Atheist Ireland, would elaborate further on whether that is a valued argument in the context of the earlier comments about the discrimination and segregation that occurs within a minority faith among the different factions of that faith. The previous Joint Committee on Education and Skills also had discussions on this Bill. Perhaps the witnesses would outline what they believe were the most important recommendations arising from those discussions, with particular emphasis on any particular recommendation they believe should be taken into account by this committee in its consideration of the Bill. I would also welcome further elaboration from EQUATE on its amendment and how it sees that playing out. I note Education Equality has also tabled amendments to the Bill and I would welcome further comment from its representatives in that regard.

On the issue of Gaelscoileanna, I am not an Irish speaker but one of my daughters, because of her access to a local Gaelscoil, is a fluent Irish speaker. I chose to send my daughters to a Gaelscoil because I value the Irish language. I want them to be able to speak the language despite that nobody else in my family does so. I have been involved in many discussions on this issue, which led me to understand the need to protect the Irish language and culture. However, I was taken aback by a reference in one of the opening statements to the phrase "home language includes Irish", which is very different to the argument that home language is Irish. There are many people who attended Gaelscoil and speak Irish but choose not to do so within the home. I am concerned that in including the phrase "home language includes Irish" we would be giving greater access to Gaelscoil to children whose home language includes Irish than to children, such as my daughter, who benefit hugely from learning the Irish language and in respect of whom progression rates are higher. Reference was also made in an opening statement to diversity in schools and Traveller communities. If the rule is to be such that the home language includes Irish, that would be moving away from diversity because only a small minority would be able to access such education. I would welcome a response on that point.