Ivana Bacik (Independent)

Members should consider who controls our schools. At present, both national and secondary schools are still controlled predominately by the churches and by the Catholic church in particular and there is no issue in this regard.

Survivors of abuse, with whom I wish to express solidarity on their march today, may be highly dismayed to see reports in today's newspapers to the effect that the De La Salle Brothers have just launched an investment fund in Dublin. Christian Brothers Investment Services Inc. is a New York-based investment company that also is setting up in Ireland. There are real questions to be asked on whether it is appropriate for religious orders that have escaped their fair share of liability and that have been indemnified by the State to launch an investment fund for themselves or for their supporters in Dublin.

I express my sympathy to the families of the three Trinity graduates who died tragically in the recent aeroplane crash. As Members debate the Aviation (Preclearance) Bill, all think of airline safety and must think of the families and friends of those Trinity graduates.