There is appetite for a push in the Dail to stop children from preparing for the sacraments in Catholic schools, a Senator has said.

The Social Democrats proposed the move and received strong support from Sinn Fein among others.

However, Aontú Senator Sarah O’Reilly, said the proposal lacks popular support: “children don’t want it, teachers don’t want it, and parents don’t want it. So, essentially, the Social Democrats are bringing forward a motion that nobody has any appetite for,” the Cavan Senator said.

Aontu Deputy Paul Lawless, a former teacher, accusing the Social Democrats of pushing an “anti-pluralist” agenda.

“The Social Democrats are seeking to ultimately deny the rights of thousands of families across Ireland to educate their children in the ethos of their children,” Lawless said.

He added that while his party supports the divestment programme, the Government has faced difficulties because parents are “happy overwhelmingly with faith-based education, and are seeking to support that in the surveys and consultations that happen.”