Law allowing discrimination against gay teachers to be changed this week
Laws allowing schools to discriminate against gay teachers are to be changed this week.
A law to amend the controversial Section 37 provisions will be tabled in the Seanad on Wednesday.
The bill from Labour intends to amend the law which allows religious institutions, including schools and hospitals, to discriminate against certain employees in order to maintain their religious ethos.
The news comes on the same day that the Marriage Act comes into force, allowing full marriage rights for same-sex couples.
The Government passed the first stage of the Bill in July, when chairperson of the INTO LGBT Teachers' Group Anne Marie Lillis said: "LGB teachers can be secure in the knowledge that speaking about our families and our relationships, in the same way as our colleagues and that being gay or lesbian will have no bearing on job security or on prospects for promotion.
"When signed into law this legislation will end the threat of discrimination in primary schools based on sexual orientation."
