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

Two issues arise. First, it became clear that there was no provision in the Education Act in respect of establishing a new model of patronage. In such circumstances, I was obliged to ask my officials, in conjunction with the Attorney General, to consider the position in order that we might overcome that difficulty. The provision contained in the Act related to the provision of new schools rather than developing new models of patronage.

The second issue is that surrounding the making available of legal advice. Deputy Quinn has served as Minister for Finance and he is aware that it is not normal practice to make the advice of the Attorney General publicly available.

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