A bill preventing Catholic schools admitting Catholic children first was passed by the Dáil yesterday. Minority denominations and religions will continue to be allowed to operate faith-based admissions policies.

Catholic school bodies have argued that banning religion as a selection criterion in admissions would breach their constitutional rights relating to religious freedom and freedom of association and have indicated they might fight the legislation in the courts.

Minister for Education Richard Bruton said however that the provision was robust and would mean baptism as a preferment for entry to Catholic schools in the event of oversubscription would be removed. Mr Bruton told the Dáil after the Bill was passed: “Ireland is changing and we need to change with it. The expectation of citizens around the education system have changed and I think this Bill will go some distance to ensuring that we keep up with those changes.

Fianna Fáil education spokesman Thomas Byrne welcomed the passage of the Bill which he described as “in some ways radical legislation” but said in other way it will not affect many schools in terms of how they operate.

The legislation now goes to the Seanad.