Dr. Niall Muldoon:

In regard to the school and the young girl who was pregnant, the crucial issue was the religious ethos of the school and how it was maintained. The use of the inspectorate was more about ensuring the policies were in line with what they should be in that situation.

Senator Craughwell asked about the possibility of our assisting with templates. It is an issue we have examined. We are in the early stages of trying to devise a child-friendly administration scenario which may result in the development of tools that can help various administrators. We are always trying to create policies that are child-friendly and child-appropriate and will look at the issue raised by the Senator in that context.

In regard to the issue of gender recognition and the transgender child, we agree on the need for appropriate training in all schools in the context of the huge change in culture for everybody in that regard. While the number of children involved in this regard is not high, it is important that schools are prepared when this issue presents for them. Damage can be done if the appropriate training is not in place in a school at the time the issue arises. We will be encouraging that sort of support for teachers and hope they will get it.