Religious symbolism - Decision is long overdue

SWITZERLAND has banned minarets on new mosques.

Five years ago France ruled that students not wear Muslim head scarves, Sikh turbans, Jewish skullcaps or large Christian crucifixes.

An Garda Síochána has been accused of being a closed shop, because it will not allow Sikhs join and wear a turban.

We have not made any national ruling on religious symbolism in the classroom, rather, we have disingenuously left it to individual school managers.

We have been very fortunate that so many immigrants have assimilated into this society without any difficulties. If we want that to continue we need a national policy that recognises the reality of Ireland in 2009.

We cannot dodge another hard decision.