Rónán Mullen (Independent)

It is wonderful to have such harmony because this is what Archbishop Martin was rightly getting at when he suggested it would be untenable for there to be such a predominance of Catholic schools in circumstances in which the same percentage of people did not wish for it. We must examine honestly and carefully at the issues of parental choice. I note and recommend to Members the comments of Archbishop Martin yesterday in which he warned of moving to a new education system by "single-issue plebiscite, a panic reaction or a managed strategic action by one grouping ... Decisions based on the 'polemics of the moment' are less likely to be successful". If we take a view that respects parental choice, recognises that national schools are good but nationalisation might not be so good and might not represent parents' best wishes and desires, then we will arrive at the right answers to the questions.