Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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I am happy with the response. I would again like to point out that even if this only affects a small number of people, for them it is overwhelmingly significant. The defence is that this is not normally utilised within the school experience. If someone is on the rough end of this it does not matter how many schools across the country use it or not. The school that person wanted to attend did use it and the fact that his or her parent or grandparent did not attend the school was the reason he or she did not get in. That potentially has a life-forming impact. While we may say it is only a handful of schools, it could grow and grow. The fact it is there in legislation gives it legitimacy. There is legitimacy from the Houses of the Oireachtas to discriminate on the basis of what school someone's parents or grandparents went to. I know I might be using strong language here but I do find it offensive.

There is a middle Ireland assumption that everybody's grandparents went to secondary school or that everybody's parents went to secondary school but not everybody's did, including those from outside the area or the country or from a tradition where their grandparents or parents were not afforded that opportunity. This goes to the core of what inequality really feels like. Middle Ireland needs to understand that. Those overseeing the management of our schools and our education system need to understand that too.