Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

How can there be choice when 90% of schools are Catholic schools? Why can we not have circumstances in which schools are not faith based? I fully defend everybody’s right to practice a religion. I represent Hindus and Muslims who are trying to find places of worship in their area. I have no problem with that. At the end of the school day, those parents who want to use a school building to propagate their faith among their children should be allowed to do so, but all the children should be kept together for the school day. I do not see anything wrong with that model.

I ask the Taoiseach not to go down the proposed road. It seems that the Catholic Church has contacted the Government and has asked for something it can accept and still remain in control of all the schools.

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