Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 November 2016
234. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has reviewed the recently published Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill of the Labour Party; his views on the aims and objectives of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34770/16]
View answerI have included a specific action in the Action Plan for Education that expresses my commitment to working with the Committee to deliver change in this area.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government proposed and the Dáil agreed that the Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill would proceed to second stage in June 2017. This will allow parents, patrons and other stakeholders to have their say and to ensure that the right balance can be struck between competing rights and that there would be no unintended consequence that would create an adverse impact on the schools of minority denominations.
I believe that this Bill requires the time and space to allow for adequate scrutiny and debate in order to ensure that any new approach is reasonable, fair and workable.
The work of the Education and Skills Committee will be invaluable in that regard and I look forward to working with the Committee on this important work.
