Ms Derval Duggan:

The issue I would like legislators to take into account is the protection of the constitutional rights of children. I am happy that it is provided for in the Bill but I do not see how they can be protected under the current integrated curriculum.

I would like members to look forward 20 or 30 years in the context of what kind of education system we want. If this Bill proceeds as drafted, it will perpetuate religious discrimination. As previous speakers mentioned, we will end up with a two-tier system. Parents want the best quality of teaching and learning for their children and they want the school with a good reputation. The National Parents Council has conducted surveys and the patron is not the most important thing for us as parents; it is whether our children are happy and will receive quality teaching and learning. I hope this does not happen but I am afraid that it will transpire that the schools that have been operating for a long time with a good reputation will remain under religious patronage and all the new schools that are currently being built will be run by everybody else or the people who are not happy to pretend they are of a religion and there will be segregation. Academic segregation, which is also an issue currently, will worsen. That would be a disgrace in the middle of the 21st century. I would like members to think ahead about what we want for our children.