Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Again, in the absence of Government amendments, the same point is being made and I will repeat my remarks. The Government amendments will oblige relevant employers in religious-run schools and hospitals to show that favourable treatment of an employee, or prospective employee, is limited to the religion ground. The religion ground shall not be regarded as justified unless it is the following circumstances - rationally and strictly related to the institution's religious ethos; a response to the conduct of a person, which was the point made by Senator Power, which undermines or would undermine the religious ethos of the institution, rather than being a response to that person's status under any of the other discrimination grounds such as sexual orientation, marital status or being an unmarried parent or divorcee, as set out in equality legislation; and is proportionate, which is a key word, to the conduct of the employee, or prospective employee, having regard to alternative action the employer could take, etc.

In terms of the amendment, the Government will also table amendments to the Bill. Today, we are discussing the text of my remarks. Rather than get into the substance of the debate I understand where the Senator is coming from. It would be better for the debate, in its totality, to take place on Report Stage when we have the context of the Government amendments, rather than working from the initial Bill and my own remarks.