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

It is not in the grounds for appeal. It is in the issues which will be considered by the council or the agency. I will look at the wording of this amendment again because if it can be more precise, then we should make it more precise to ensure it could not be construed in another way. This is just one of a list of issues where the agency will consider it. This is not offering a grounds of refusal to a school. This is an issue that would be looked at. The intention is that the agency would look at what the school was offering in terms of the facilities and the admission policies that were involved in the various schools in the locality. It would look across the spectrum. Religion would be one of the issues it would look at. In view of Deputy Shortall's concern, which is that, on the face of it, it could be drawn a bit too widely, perhaps we should spell out what elements of the admissions policy should be assessed and I will look afresh at amendment No. 110. It is certainly an unintended consequence if it were to work in the way the Deputy is concerned about.