Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

We are all ad idem on this and I commend the work Senator Averil Power did in the Seanad in this regard. There are complexities around this issue because the Bill it is proposed to amend was referred to the Supreme Court in the first instance and so has the stamp of constitutionality, which is unusual for legislation. Therefore, we are advised legally that we must be extremely careful in how we propose to amend that legislation. This issue is also of concern to the Irish Human Rights Commission, which is now being amalgamated with the Equality Authority. This will occur later this year. The Minister for Justice and Equality and I have decided, in consultation with the Attorney General, that we should refer this issue, on which there is cross-party commitment to getting a resolution, to the new commission and to ensure further legal consideration is given to it so as to maintain the balance of rights that are there in terms of schools and ethos.

It is more important that we get this legally right than that we get it done early. I am committed to getting it done by the end of this year and to bringing it forward then. I share the concerns expressed in the other parts of the Deputy's comments.

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