Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yes, and I will give an example. The last thing I want to do is pit sector against sector. I am, however, talking in a frank way because it is important that a committee like this functions in that manner. I went through non-denominational education. The religious sacraments were available to people if they chose them. People from Jewish and Protestant backgrounds also attended the school and they did not have to choose them. The unifying element was the delivery of education through the medium of Irish. Perhaps I was at an integrated school all along and did not know it. My point is that if we are going to advocate for a universal model, then we must be careful that such a model is not at the expense or detriment of another model. I want to give the witnesses the opportunity to provide reassurance. Mr. Jim Gibney, who works in my office, always refers to "lighting a candle as opposed to cursing the dark". I ask the witnesses to light a candle on this issue and reassure us.