Vol. 401 No. 6
5 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education if, in the context of the Anglo-Irish Agreement or otherwise, she has received any representations or expressed any views on the proposals of the Northern Ireland Government to specially promote interdenominational education from the point of view of the effectiveness or equity of these proposals; and if she will outline her views on these proposals and on their possible applicability here.
I have not received any representations in the context of the Anglo-Irish Agreement or otherwise, nor have I expressed any views, from the point of view of effectiveness or equity, on the proposals of the Northern Ireland Government in relation to interdenominational education which I regard as appertaining to the Under-Secretary of State in charge of education in Northern Ireland and the other relevant interested parties.
As the circumstances obtaining are specific to Northern Ireland, I consider it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the proposals or offer suggestions on their possible application here.
In that context last year I visited Dr. Mawhinney in Belfast and I had discussions with him and his officials. He visited me in Marlborough Street last winter and I am visiting Belfast next Monday fortnight to speak to him again in relation to various matters.
We have now run out of time. Deputy Bruton's supplementary must be brief and final.
I thank you, Sir, for allowing me to put it at all. When the Minister sees Dr. Mawhinney will she indicate some measure of encouragement from this side of the Border for the efforts he is making to promote integrated education in Northern Ireland? The likelihood of enmity between people who share the classroom would be greatly reduced in generations to come.
I agree with the Deputy. While my answer was formal in the sense that the matter would not have been raised in a formal way, I would be glad to do as the Deputy suggests. I thank him for his outspoken comments on the matter. There is integrated education in the North. It is in here in another context, but the multi-denominational schools are making great strides and in their own way seek to cross the divide.
We now proceed to deal with other questions.
