Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is very welcome to the committee. I too welcome and support the measure outlined in the documentation with which we have been provided. As the Minister stated, Irish society is changing by the day. We are trying to keep pace with what is happening in society. The theme of the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, which the Minister discussed yesterday in the Seanad, is followed on in the documentation. There are concerns, some of which were outlined by Senator Gavan, in regard to discrimination and so on.

I am satisfied that the doors of Catholic and other schools are open. As I stated to the Minister in the Seanad, if Damien, a four year old character in the film "The Omen", arrived at the doors of any school, he would be welcomed with open arms. Some 15% of school-going children in north Monaghan, my area, are non-Irish but that is not an issue and, thankfully, they are integrating very well into society. We must keep abreast of the matter but I am satisfied that the current situation is acceptable. However, we must be conscious that the face of Irish society is changing daily.