Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to express support for the measure. In the written script sent by the Minister, which the committee members received in an email this morning, he acknowledged that the place of religion in education is changing. We all understand that there is a lot of fluidity around this issue at the moment. Views similar to those Senator Gavan has just expressed are growing in this country. In this case, however, I certainly understand the background to it. The merger of the colleges was a significant move at the time, and it is important that we have that kind of integration. In some ways it is historic that colleges like St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, the Mater Dei Institute of Education and the Church of Ireland College of Education are coming together in a secular university to train teachers in initial education. I do not have a question. I just want to acknowledge that it is the right thing to do at this stage.