Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

If there is a difficulty, it should be addressed. I understood that was precisely why the PPS number is sought. It is very important that parents in the areas being surveyed would return the surveys by 8 February so that we can get a good representative sample of parental views and preferences in the matter of their children's education. I hope we can then have a debate in this House on patronage. I know we had one before but it would be useful to have one again. We should also address the issue of secondary schools. Along with many others I attended a meeting last week on the need for a multidenominational secondary school to serve the needs of the greater Dublin area. There is considerable cross-party support for that initiative.

I renew a call for a debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine. Senator O'Keeffe called for a debate yesterday when I was leading on the Order of Business. It is particularly urgent given the reports that Silvercrest has lost contracts with Tesco and others.

I congratulate the National Women's Council of Ireland which today announced the Y-Factor project, an initiative to support young women campaigning for gender equality and to make young women aware of the need to campaign for gender equality and to look for greater proportions of women representing us in politics and public life generally. I very much welcome that and hope we will see more from the young women involved.