Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I thank the Minister for engaging so fully with the House, irrespective of whether he accepted our amendments, and his many comments and insights in the debate. As I made clear, I have concerns about aspects of the Bill. I am conscious also that the Minister has sought to give some reassurances on how the legislation will be implemented. I appreciate the various comments he made on the specific needs of particular schools, whether Gaelscoileanna, schools with a certain ethos or schools for children with special needs. While I would prefer that the Bill contained more references to "agreement" and fewer references to "consultation", nonetheless I hope the debate will inform the approach the Minister and his Department take in their interaction and liaison with various representative bodies. This would be in everyone's interest given the importance of education and all that is at stake.