Dr. Patrick Sullivan:

The Senator asked about the primacy of parents, and of course we respect that entirely, and on the characteristic spirit of the school. There are statements in the primary curriculum framework in that regard indicating that the characteristic spirit of the school should inform all teaching and learning through the curriculum. That is not in question in any way.

The terms equity and equality are quite important, equality being the same for everybody while equity recognises that different people come from different backgrounds and there are different challenges that young people, children, meet coming to school, many of which Senator Flynn referred to, and those need to be addressed in certain ways. That equity of opportunity for all children is really important.

The Irish identity question is really interesting. It has come up in the consultation feedback. The consultation was held from March to June this year. One thing has been the commentary that Senator Mullen provided around a recognition that the curriculum look at Ireland and the local, national and then international, including the European and Ireland’s place in Europe. There is the sense of Irish identity. What makes it a curriculum for Irish children is something that came up in the consultation and we are looking at that in the feedback we have received to date.

A breadth of views have been shared through the consultation in respect of the draft specification to which Senator Mullen has referred. We are taking all that on board and that is being reworked into the finalised specifications coming in the coming months. Ms Forster might wish to add to that.