Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Senator Fitzgerald's point on grants is certainly worth considering. We should remind ourselves that last week we raised with the Minister for Education and Science the fact that we expect management grants for primary schools to be doubled, as was indicated or promised at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis. We expect this to be announced next week.

We have recently raised the question of ethos. My colleague Senator Norris has referred regularly to the ethos of the Catholic and Protestant churches in educational institutions and mentioned the ethos associated with sacking and employing staff and enrolling students. I have raised the matter myself. The Irish Times suggests this morning that we might consider protecting the Protestant ethos on the Trinity panel. This deserves some discussion because I did not recognise that my colleagues representing Trinity College represented a particular ethos. I am sure they will be as quick as I am in saying this. I am sorry Senator Norris is not present because I am sure he would agree with me. The word "ethos" is confused with culture and other matters and while there are real phenomena that need to be protected in society, "ethos" is not the word that describes them.

A related matter was raised in the House on a number of occasions, namely, the support CURA receives from the Government, in addition to the question of the Positive Options campaign. I am delighted the organisation has decided, in agreement with the Catholic bishops, to ensure all those who approach it will be made aware of and receive the Positive Options leaflet. It is good that the service is the same in all circumstances. This is how CURA has dealt with the question of ethos. A good news story arising from this development is that there are now fewer teenage pregnancies than there were heretofore and the number of women going abroad for abortions has decreased. I refer to The Netherlands in addition to the United Kingdom because somebody suggested women may be going to the former for abortions instead of the latter. There are therefore some positive developments in this area. It is good that Positive Options is not being excluded in any of the discussions.