Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I thank Senator Healy Eames for her comments on the Ryan report. I am on record as stating that I hope the religious orders will be generous. I also have warned against attempts, on the back of the Ryan commission report, to open up debates on issues such as education and who specifically runs it. As I have stated, so doing runs the risk of being perceived as being manipulative and cynical and would be irresponsible. Moreover, it is important for people to check their facts. For example, Deputy Ruairí Quinn stated that 1,000 schools were run by religious orders when in reality only a few hundred are so run.