Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said the Labour Party had a pluralist agenda and wanted diversity reflected in the State’s 3,000 primary schools.
Speaking at a debate on education during the second day of the party’s conference in Galway, Mr Quinn said Labour does not have “an aggressively secular agenda”.
“We have a pluralist agenda. What we are doing through the forum on patronage and pluralism, is starting a process that will allow our school system to reflect our diverse population.
“Change in relation to patronage is not restricted to the primary sector. That is why we have recognised Educate Together as a second-level patron, to ensure that similar diversity is available to all parents of second-level students.”
He referred two motions on third level fees back to the National Executive for further consideration. He said the party was “determined that there should be no economic obstacle to entry to third-level education and that is what we must continue to work towards”.
“Over the next number of years, we will transform our education system. I will continue to listen closely to you delegates as together we shape the educational future of our children, young people and our unemployed.”
An estimated one thousand delegates are attending the three-day meeting in Galway and today’s debates centre on education, health and the economy.
Minister of State for Primary Care Róisín Shortall said the health service was facing significant cuts if there was not fundamental reform in the sector.
She also reaffirmed the Government's commitment to the National Drugs Strategy.
Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte told delegates that households and service providers needed to reduce energy consumption and switch where possible to renewable sources.
Because the Irish economy is heavily reliant on imported oil “we in Ireland are price takers on the international energy markets and there is very little we can do to control those energy prices”.
He said the Government was committed to its target of replacing supports for energy efficiency with a new Pay As You Save scheme by the end of next year.
“The project requires me to get financial institutions, installers, administrators, assessors and energy suppliers to work together in the common interest,” he said.
The centrepiece of the weekend is party leader Eamon Gilmore’s speech at 8.30pm tonight. You can watch this speech live on irishtimes.com.
Last night Mr Gilmore said Irish politics was getting to the point where Ministers would have to “go around covered in a cloak” for fear of meeting someone it was felt they should not be meeting.