Ms Jane Donnelly:

Regarding Deputy Paul Murphy's question on the ethos, I agree the Education Act needs to be amended but there has not been an amendment to religious discrimination under the Employment Equality Act 1998. Under section 37(1), one can still discriminate on the grounds of religion. That was changed in regard to LGBT but it was not changed in regard to religion. Under their contract, teachers are obliged to uphold the religious ethos of the school. They are in the position, therefore, if they give objective sex education in schools under religious patronage, they are in breach of their employment contract. There is a connection, therefore, with section 37(1) of the Employment Equality Act as well as the various sections in the Education Act to which we have referred.