Mr. Paddy Monahan:

We have drafted amendments in the areas relating to equal access and equal respect. Children should not be prioritised for access to their local school on the basis of their religion. Equally, as Ms Lennon stated, parents should be able to choose whether a child receives religious instruction in that school. We have narrow goals and we think they are achievable through our amendments.

In regard to equal access, section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Act allows 96% of our taxpayer funded primary schools to prioritise enrolment on the basis of a child's religion. We call for the immediate repeal of this law in order that all children have an equal opportunity to attend their local school regardless of religion. In short, it is profoundly wrong that four and five year old children should face State imposed discrimination and segregation on the basis of religion. The State is conferring a significant advantage in the provision of a taxpayer funded service on the basis of religion. The baptism of convenience is a predictable and logical result as, regardless of over-subscription, families will always be infinitely more secure in their educational opportunities by having children baptised. Article 44.2.3° of the Constitution provides that, "The State shall not impose any disabilities or make any discrimination on the ground of religious profession, belief or status." The current situation in our taxpayer funded schools is a gross breach of this clearly worded and unambiguous provision.

In regard to equal respect, Article 44.2 4° of the Constitution explicitly applies the principle of non-discrimination to the issue of religious instruction within taxpayer funded schools. It provides that legislation providing State aid for schools shall not be such as to "affect prejudicially the right of any child to attend a school receiving public money without attending religious instruction at that school". It is a right for a child to attend a local school without receiving religious instruction. That is already in the Constitution.

The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, states the vast majority of our schools work to welcome every child, but in most schools the best hard-pressed teachers can do during daily faith formation lessons is leave children not of the patron's religion sitting separately in the classroom, segregated from the rest of the class and doing non-curriculum busy work. This is the fate that non-religious and minority children will face every day of their primary school lives. The situation is infinitely worse during communion and confirmation years. How can this be described as welcoming? At best it seems like grudging tolerance of those others fortunate enough to be given a place.

I will now hand over to Ms Lennon who will give the testimony of parents.