Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I welcome the Minister to the House on this auspicious day, 1 May, as he was the Minister at the time who introduced the May Day bank holiday. I also welcome members of the Portobello Educate Together School Start-Up Group who are in the Gallery and I thank them for coming along. I should declare that I am chair of the group and that we are one of the groups seeking change in our system. I commend the advisory group, Professor Coolahan and his colleagues, on producing what is a comprehensive, measured and balanced report. I take issue with Senator Mullen who has unfairly characterised it as being in some way biased or skewed. It takes a very measured approach and deals with a number of pressing issues. I have heard other colleagues suggest that patronage is not a pressing issue but, clearly, quality of education - I speak as a parent - is the most pressing issue, of which patronage is a key part. I went to a rural national school that was Catholic in ethos where the Catholic faith formation dominated the day.