Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for their presentations. With Deputies Hildegarde Naughton and Jan O'Sullivan and Senator Lynn Ruane, I was a member of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, of which a key ancillary recommendation concerned the need for a consistent programme of sex education, regardless of school ethos. I do not see how that can sit within the remit of schools that come under the Joint Managerial Body, JMB. I say that respectfully, but the last questioner made it very clear why that was the case. Even the language used in Familiaris consortiosounds like something from another century which I guess it is at this stage. Is Mr. Curtis saying the JMB cannot agree with the idea of having an objective, consistent programme of relationships and sexuality education, regardless of school ethos?

With regard to Dr. Gormley's presentation, I have a concern about the model agreement college, whereby it is tied with a trustee partner such as the local diocese or religious congregation. That surely has to have a impact locally on how the issue is dealt with. Sinn Féin is very clear that it is a republican party. It believes in the complete separation of church and State. It also believes education in this area should be consistent. It does not think it should be watered down or changed because of ethos. Fundamentally, we are dealing with a problem in how the education system grew. It should be democratic and under the control of the State, but it is not. As the Minister said, it is primarily under private patronage. I want to understand those views. It was key in the debates we had at the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, its outworkings and the outworkings on which we will report.