Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The same situation prevails, that we are not debating amendments here to the Equal Status Act. Whatever changes we make here do not change the Equal Status Act. Under the Equal Status Act, one has the right, if challenged, to go to the WRC and to prove that a refusal he or she has made is essential to maintain the ethos of the school. I understand that has not been tested and schools have not been using this ground of refusal as a way of keeping non-co-religionists out. There has not been a case of this brought to the WRC and it is an unused section. However, until it is changed, we have to respect it and our provision on education admission policy has to respect the existing provisions of the Equal Status Act. Obviously, if we come back and change that, there will be consequential changes through this legislation, but that is the debate for another occasion.