Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

As the Taoiseach will be aware, minority religions have long seen their ability to offer schools, and particularly schools of their faiths, as central to protecting their existence in our country. They have been scared of the agenda, as announced by the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, of transferring 50% of schools away from religious patronage. Did this come up in discussions with the minority faiths? It has been an important issue in the continuing inter-faith dialogue. Did the Taoiseach give the churches he met any reassurance on that point in terms of religious patronage and their role in education, which they, particularly the minority religions, see as central in terms of protecting their faith?

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