Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. He outlined a series of meetings he had with the Humanist Association of Ireland, Atheist Ireland and the Catholic Church and Church of Ireland. Let me move quickly to the issue concerning our schools, and school patronage in particular. The Taoiseach will recall that in the early days of Deputy Ruairí Quinn's time as Minister for Education and Skills, he said he wanted 50% of schools to change patronage or to change to other models during the lifetime of the Government. I remember questioning the Taoiseach at the time and he deferred to the Minister. There are approximately 3,000 primary schools. If 50% were to change status, it would have involved approximately 1,500 schools. Out of the more than 1,500 primary schools that were supposed to have been involved, exactly five changed status and another four are to change status in September. If ever there was a case of spin trumping substance, this is one. The Taoiseach must accept that.

The former Minister, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, said many things in this day but we all remember the famous comment about signing on the steps of Trinity College the dotted line of an agreement that there would be no increase in third level fees. Within months, he was increasing them. That happened so I do not know why the Minister for Foreign Affairs is shaking his head. He cannot make these things go away. There are photographs and so on. It is a bit like the statement that the VAT never increased. It appears we all only imagined that it actually increased. It actually never did according to the Taoiseach. I thank the Taoiseach for convincing me of the fact that we never had an increase in VAT. Likewise, on this issue, much time was wasted and many fears were stoked up. Very little actually happened in this area. I would like the Taoiseach to comment on that.

With regard to the Taoiseach's meeting with the Islamic religious leaders, one of the issues that arises is that many Muslims are very concerned about what is happening. After the Paris attacks, the German demonstrations, and so forth, a debate on Islam has been taking place in Europe. It is completely unacceptable to try to blame Muslims in general for the actions of a tiny extremist minority, yet certain movements are trying to do that. Did the Taoiseach discuss this with the leaders of the Muslim church in Ireland? Does he agree that we need to ensure we stand united against attempts to blame an entire religion or group for the action of extremists?

As we said earlier, given the murders in Tunisia and elsewhere, we need to increase vigilance against extremist violence. In the Taoiseach's discussions with the leaders, did he touch on those subjects and how we can prevent a fundamentalist minority entrenching itself and developing here? How can we guard against intolerance and the emergence of generally extreme manifestations of religions, particularly Islam?

Can the Taoiseach outline why he decided not to proceed with the blasphemy referendum? I never heard a proper explanation as to why he decided not to proceed with it. Most people were nonplussed or could not understand why we were having a referendum on the age at which one could become President. No one saw that as a pressing, urgent matter of public interest. The blasphemy referendum proposal had substance to it. Why did the Taoiseach not proceed with it, especially because he was going forward with two referenda, one on marriage equality and the other on the age of the President? One could argue that a blasphemy referendum or, alternatively, a referendum on the nomination process concerning how one becomes President were more pressing. On blasphemy, commitments had been given. I would like an explanation as to why the Taoiseach did not proceed with that referendum.

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