Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

This brings me to the question raised by Senators Hayden and Keane. Sometime in the 1960s our non-denominational system of primary education was turned into a denominational one. From the Stanley letter onwards, religion had to be taught at the beginning or the end of the school day or week. Schools had to remove religious symbolism from their walls while secular subjects were being taught and they had to post a sign announcing when religious instruction was being provided. Stanley knew he could never get the legislation through.