Sex education engagement
Deputy McGrath asks whether Peter Tatchell or associated groups had any role in sex education policy or engagement with the Department. The Taoiseach says he does not believe so, condemns online abuse of the Minister, and says RSE should be modernised through the NCCA and expert input.
Given the extremely disturbing nature of the commentary of the activist Peter Tatchell presenting sex education with children in a positive light, will the Taoiseach confirm that Mr. Tatchell or his organisation, the Peter Tatchell Foundation, and the other organisations with which he is associated, did not have any engagement with the Department of Education and Skills and will not have any engagement but, more importantly, did not have any engagement with the Minister with responsibility for children and the policy regarding sex education for our children in national schools? The commentary of Mr. Tatchell is very disturbing and I want to know if Mr. Tatchell, or any of the organisations with which he is involved - they are numerous and he is a patron of some of them - has had any engagement and, if so, what the nature of that engagement is.
Comment on this
I will make two points on this issue. I do not believe so but I do not know the man at all. The attacks on the Minister for children were completely outrageous and unacceptable. It was the kind of online hate campaign that we should really be very strongly against. We have good centre ground in this country that really resents the online vile hatred that is directed against people in an unjustified way. That is not what the Deputy is saying, I accept that, but-----
Comment on this
No. My experience regarding the development of the relationships and sexuality education, RSE, programme is that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, will have an input, as well as expertise from psychologists etc. It is a much more rounded formulation and development for children, obviously age appropriate and with different programs at different levels. Much work goes into that and it is considered and important work. It needs to be modernised.
Comment on this
It is based on core human values of respect, consent, self-esteem and self-respect. People have misguided views regarding what sex education is about and what sexuality and relationship education is about and we need to keep this in perspective. Frankly, I would have thought the last place for that to be deliberated upon is on social media.