Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am surprised that Sinn Féin of all parties cannot support the preference, if oversubscribed, for Church of Ireland or other minority faith schools. Where are these schools? There are 22 Church of Ireland schools in Donegal, eight in Cavan and five in Monaghan. There are only two Presbyterian schools in Dublin, while there are nine in Donegal and three in Monaghan. If we are looking for an agreed united Ireland, it is essential that we just do not go in straight away and take those schools from those faiths. There should be no mistake. If those schools are not allowed to prefer if they are oversubscribed, their communities would end up shattered. Anyone would be allowed to go to the schools and there would be no sense of common identity. If the Church of Ireland and Presbyterian communities told me they do not need it, then so be it. However, they have made a strong case that they need these schools for their communities. This is a republic and we recognise Catholic, Protestant, and Dissenter. The Catholic Church, which has so many schools under its patronage, is well able to stand on its own two feet.

For our minority faith communities, it is essential that we maintain their schools in order to show them that they are welcome and that there is no threat to them.

11 o’clock

In that way, we can show them that they are welcome in our country, that there is no threat to them, that we value them and their contribution, that we recognise the fact that they are here and that we do all we can to protect them. They represent no threat to equal rights; they are not a cause of discrimination in this country. They are here to serve their communities and Dáil Éireann should recognise that until such time as they tell us that it is not necessary for their communities.

See this speech in context