The Minister for Education has been criticised by fellow Government politicians following her complaint that some families feel compelled to baptise their children so as to secure a school place for them.

In an interview with The Irish Independent newspaper, Minister Jan O’Sullivan of the Labour Party responded to earlier comments from Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin who, in defending faith schools, said Catholic schools should have the right to prioritise Catholic applicants.

“I don’t think anyone should feel forced to baptise their children, if it is not something that they want,” Minister O’Sullivan said. “And I don’t think the Church want that either.”

The minister also voiced a desire to see Ireland’s education system changed to prohibit faith schools from selecting pupils on faith grounds.

Minister O’Sullivan’s words have drawn criticism from Fine Gael party members, who see the issue as divisive in the face of the forthcoming election.

Aine Collins TD said: “From an election point of view, now is not the time to have a debate you can’t win because you are not going to make everyone happy by doing it.”

Fine Gael Junior Minister Tom Hayes told The Irish Independent: “We need to focus on the economy and job creation in the run-up to the election instead of coming up with ideas that are going to ruffle feathers in parts of the Government.”

Lucinda Creighton also reacted to Minister O’Sullivan’s words. She said: “We have to give priority to kids from the local areas going to State funded schools.”