Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

I was given many reasons as to why the statue had been removed, of which health and safety was one. Another was that it might give offence. We are now rushing to remove all religious symbols from hospitals, Garda stations, Leinster House and other places without any policy being formulated. Are we removing everything? Are we going to use health and safety as an excuse to remove religious symbols without being clear on what we are doing and why we are doing it? I ask the Leader to organise a debate, not only on the issue of opening on Good Friday for the match but on the broader issue of whether we want to remove all religious symbols from State buildings. If that is the policy and decision of the Government, so be it, but let a decision be taken, rather than use health and safety as an excuse to remove a calendar in Limerick one week and a statue in County Kerry in another.