Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I join Deputy Kenny in extending congratulations to Cardinal Seán Brady on his elevation at the weekend.

On the Taoiseach's dialogue with the various churches and the different faith communities, the issue of education which previous speakers addressed in some depth is a vast and complex area. Can the Taoiseach give us a sense of the time he can devote in terms of these engagements to such an important and complex area?

In his respective engagements, is he meeting with the churches and faith communities individually or collectively to discuss this matter? Is this matter discussed collectively with representatives of the churches or is it on a one-on-one basis with the Taoiseach and representatives of the churches or the faith communities concerned?

I ask the Taoiseach to note that I concur with Deputy Gilmore regarding his proposal for a specific forum in which to address this matter more substantively. Will the Taoiseach elaborate on his disposition to this request? Given the position in north County Dublin in the late summer and early autumn period with the advent of the new school term, when children were not afforded schoolplaces because the management of the schools was under Catholic control and they accorded first access to children baptised into the Catholic religion and giving those children precedence over children of other faith communities, does the Taoiseach accept that this indicates there is an urgency in this area?

There is a universal acceptance — it goes without saying, given all the points made — of the tremendous role the Catholic church and other churches have played in the provision of education for the greater number of us. It simply would not have been provided otherwise because the State has clearly failed in its role and function of providing State education at all levels.

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