Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I echo the words of Senator Alex White in calling for a debate on the ownership of national schools. While Archbishop Martin's comments that the Catholic monopoly, as he put it, over schooling is not tenable are welcome, some caution is necessary. The archbishop referred, in the reported version of his speech, to the management of schools rather than ownership. If we are to have debate on this matter we must also look at the ownership of schools that are being paid for and maintained by the State and yet remain, as far as we can tell, predominantly in the ownership of the Catholic church. A debate is needed to ensure there is greater choice for parents and children as to where they receive their education.

I renew my call to the Leader for a timeframe for the introduction of the Climate Protection Bill and the Civil Partnership Bill. The Leader responded yesterday but did not give a commitment as to when those Bills will be introduced-----