Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Minister is aware of the survey carried out by EQUATE which showed that 77% of respondents did not think a school should have the right to refuse admission to a child based on his or her religious denomination, while 87% thought the State had a responsibility to ensure children did not experience religious discrimination in the school curriculum. The Minister might expand on how the legislation he is introducing on school admission policies might resolve these conflicts in the context of rights. It is okay to cover long waiting lists in terms of their not being allowed as a basis for discrimination, but this is a fundamental policy whereby children are potentially discriminated against based on their religious denomination. I would be interested to hear the Minister expand on how these issues can be resolved in the legislation without looking at the Equal Status Act.

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