Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The position, as we discussed earlier, is that we are not changing the Equal Status Act here. There is a desire by the committee to consider changes to the Equal Status Act and we indicated that we will revert to that issue. If we make changes to the Equal Status Act, there will have to be consequential changes to this Bill. I fully recognise that point. Some of these provisions, which are taken entirely from that Act, will have to be repealed or changed, in particular, this provision in relation to section 7(3)(c).

Changing this here, however, does not change the Equal Status Act one whit. That will remain on the Statute Book. The only way in which we can amend it is by making provisions in respect of that Act and we will have to do that on a fresh occasion in a fresh debate. All of the issues the Deputies are raising can be considered at that stage.

Deputy Catherine Martin's amendment is trying, by the back door, to change the Equal Status Act by confining this exception to private schools or whatever schools, but the same-----