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

Deputy Byrne should stop shouting over me. The UN has also taken issue with Ireland on discrimination.

I will illustrate how out of step the Government position is with the majority of people. Countless surveys have been done relating to this question. A total of 87% believed the State has a responsibility to ensure children do not experience discrimination in the school curriculum. Fully 77% agreed that schools should not have the right to refuse admission on the grounds of religion, while 84% agreed that the education system should be changed such that no child should be excluded on the grounds of religion. Those surveys have been done repeatedly. The UN has said there should be a review and an amendment of laws, as appropriate, to ensure publicly funded schools provide equal access to education for all, irrespective of faith or religious affiliation. This Bill continues to fly in the face of that conclusion. The only change the Bill will make with regard to religion is whereby schools must publish their ethos and outline how they will allow an opt-out. It is not good enough for schools to outline how they will allow children to opt out. Will they be put at the back of the room to read a book or do their homework while all the time assimilating the religion through what they hear? Are they to be put in the school library? None of this amounts to a vindication of the rights of children.

The issue of religion does not end with admissions, and I realise that is the limited scope of this Bill.

There are other matters the Minister needs to consider. The UN and countless Irish equality agencies have pointed out that there is no uniform programme of relationships and sexuality education being taught in schools. It very much depends on what the school allows. Whole areas of sex education are simply not covered in schools. I do not know whether the Minister is at all concerned about this. For example, teaching on same-sex relationships is not allowed in Catholic schools, full information on contraception is not recommended in Catholic schools, and, of course, abortion is still a taboo subject and is taught from an anti-choice perspective in schools with a religious ethos. I have seen this to be the case not just in secondary school religion books, but also primary school ones. Does the Minister have any concern that the sex education of young people in this country is gender normative and discriminatory against LGBT people, despite the fact we have same-sex marriage in this country?

The Anti-Austerity Alliance supports the ending of religious discrimination in school admissions. We need to repeal section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Act and amend the Education Act 1998 in order that the curriculum is delivered in an objective, pluralistic and critical way that avoids indoctrination. Religion should be taught after core school hours on an opt-in rather than an opt-out basis. Our Equal Participation in Schools Bill has passed First Stage, and we would like to see its provisions incorporated on the next Stage of the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill if it progresses.

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