Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

The Government has been active and progressive in examining the patronage and governance in schools issue. The one day conference is an important venture in that it will bring all the stakeholders together to allow all the views and issues pertinent to this particular issue to be brought into the public domain and discussed. It does not mean, for instance, that the one day conference is the end of the matter. I would see it as being the fulcrum from which further debate can take place and the further accommodation of the diverse views in terms of patronage. I hope the Deputy will find at all times that this will be a listening Department and one that will learn from the suggestions being made because it is in the interests of all of us, Government and Opposition, to learn from what will accrue from that one day conference.

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