The clause allowing religious-owned schools to opt out of the anti-discrimination provisions of the Employment Equality Bill must be removed following the vote for the Amsterdam Treaty, the ASTI general secretary, Mr Charlie Lennon, has said. "The Amsterdam Treaty contains a new non-discrimination article which gives the EU the power to take appropriate action to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
"Given the clear two-to-one majority of Irish voters in favour of the treaty, there is a clear onus on the politicians considering the Employment Equality Bill in committee stage today to remove the proposed opt-out for management in religious-owned schools relating to anti-discrimination measures."