Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I draw the attention of Members to one of the items that is being referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. I refer to No. 22 on the Order Paper, which is based on section 12 of the Employment Equality Act 1998. Members should consider this because it is a serious matter. I have referred to this legislation many times, together with the Equal Status Act 2000. It is the one that, to my horror, allows discrimination to take place. When Members debated the Act during its passage through the Houses, I did not have a problem with the objective that they were trying to protect. However, I find appalling the manner in which it has been done. I do not object to what is being done in this case. The Church of Ireland College of Education is informing the House that it intends to reserve 32 places in the college for people of that ethos for the next number of years. No sane right-thinking person could object to that. I always have maintained that this should be possible without introducing regressive forms of legislation. I am not engaging in debate on this issue——