If you are a lgbt teacher and feel like writing a letter about Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act, the Taoiseach may need a lesson in his own programme for government. The publicly identified bit in the programme for government may need a bit of editing too while you are at the suggesting!

Labour TD Aodhán O’Riordáin raised the issue in the Order of business on Tuesday

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

I note the programme for Government states that people of non-faith or minority religious backgrounds and publicly identified lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual people should not be deterred from training or taking up employment as teachers in the State. This is a clear reference to section 37 of the Equality Act. When will an amendment to that legislation come before the House so that the discriminatory practices of some schools can be outlawed?

Enda Kenny

I do not know the detail of the issue raised by the Deputy but it is clearly of some concern to him. If he provides the detail, I will give him a reply either in the House or directly as soon as possible.