Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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435. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on separate religion-based entry for the degree in general nursing in the University of Dublin (details supplied); if he will be renewing any exemptions to the Employment Equality Act 1998 or other equality legislation that currently apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25451/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Universities and institutes of technology, under the Universities Act 1997 and the Institutes of Technology Acts, are autonomous bodies and, as such, have responsibility for their own academic affairs, including issues relating to the admission of students. Therefore it is a matter for the institutes themselves to set admissions requirements for individual programmes of education and training and to ensure that students meet those requirements before commencing their studies.

In the case referred to by the Deputy, the arrangements in place comply with the relevant provisions of the Employment Equality Act 1998. Any amendment to the Employment Equality Act 1998 is a matter for the Minister for Justice.