Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have a high regard for the contributions of my good friend and colleague, Senator Mullen, which are always well thought out and thought provoking. I agree with the principle that the State should be the leading and main provider and manager of education, but I would not subscribe to the idea that religion should not be taught in schools. I think there is a very significant difference between the Catholic or Protestant churches running a school and teaching religion within it and the State running and managing a school and a religious ethos being taught through religion, be it Catholic, Protestant or of any other religion. That is the structure I would like to see. It is fair to point out that there is a cavalier attitude to the contribution the Catholic Church has made to education in Ireland. As I said earlier, and I thank Members for acknowledging it, and as I am going to repeat-----