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Children’s Minister Norma Foley has been accused of “unacceptable” negligence over her handling of concerns regarding a sexually explicit book recommended to teenagers as young as 15.
Speaking in the Seanad last week, Independent Senator Rónán Mullen criticised Foley’s response to controversy surrounding ‘What’s the T?’, a book containing graphic sexual content which was included in a Pride-themed reading list produced by State-funded organisation Children’s Books Ireland.
Mullen made the remarks during a contribution which began with criticism of the use of Pride symbols and branding by Government departments. Referring to correspondence sent to senators by a member of the public, Declan McKenna, Mullen argued that State institutions should remain neutral on issues relating to gender identity and sexuality.
The senator said the controversy surrounding ‘What’s the T?’ demonstrated the consequences of Government bodies and publicly-funded organisations becoming aligned with particular ideologies.
He described the contents of the book, and its recommendation for readers aged 15 and over, as highly inappropriate.
“This is very relevant because when we privilege certain organisations, we see things like what happened last week with the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley,” Mullen said.
“She was challenged and asked about highly inappropriate books being pushed at children by Children’s Books Ireland, the same organisation that is looking for €68 million of taxpayer’s money to fund modern, inclusive books in libraries.”
“It is highly inappropriate sexual material that is being pushed at children as young as 15.”
Mullen said Foley’s response to questions about the book had been inadequate.
“Her glib answer was to say she had not seen the book and it is a problem for parents to deal with,” he said.
“That negligence on the Minister’s part is unacceptable.”
The senator then referenced claims made by former Fine Gael Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, who has alleged that he personally raised concerns about the book with Foley in 2023.
“The former Minister, Charlie Flanagan, gave the lie to even that by saying he approached her about the very same book in 2023 and talked about the inappropriate content and she laughed in his face,” Mullen said.
Mullen suggested political pressures may have influenced the Minister’s approach to the issue.
“I believe that the Minister, Deputy Foley, does not like those particular kinds of books but this is what happens when people get into Government and they are captured,” he said.
“They think if they stray beyond supporting certain ideologies, they will lose their position or place.”
“That is shameful on the part of the Minister and it is shameful on the part of the Government.”
The Independent senator also questioned why publicly-funded organisations were recommending material of that nature to minors.
“We need a debate on the very issue Mr. McKenna has raised and we need to ask questions about why an organisation that gets public funding, like Children’s Books Ireland, is pushing sexual material at young children at ages that are inappropriate,” Mullen said.
“It is completely wrong and we need a debate on this.”
The book at the centre of the controversy, written by transgender author Juno Dawson, contains descriptions of anal sex, references to sex toys including dildos and vibrators, guidance on the use of lubricant, and instructions relating to cleaning out one’s rectum before sex. Children’s Books Ireland included it in a Pride reading guide which stated it was suitable for readers aged 15 and over.
Mullen’s remarks come amid an ongoing dispute regarding whether Foley had previously been made aware of the book’s contents.
As reported by Gript last week, Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn raised the issue in the Dáil, referencing public claims made by Charlie Flanagan that he had discussed the book with Foley in late 2023.
“Last week, the Minister for Children, Norma Foley, said that she was not familiar with the sexually explicit book ‘What’s the T?’ when asked whether it was appropriate for a recommendation by the State-funded body and promoted by Raidió Teilifís Éireann to children as young as 15,” O’Flynn said.
“Since then, the former Minister, Charlie Flanagan, has publicly stated that he raised concerns with the Minister, Deputy Foley, in December 2023. He asked her to read that book.”
O’Flynn questioned which account was accurate.
“The question is: which is it? Was the Minister, Deputy Foley, misleading the public with her knowledge of the book, or is the former Minister, Charlie Flanagan, mistaken when he said he raised the matter directly with her in December 2023?”
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Responding on behalf of the Government, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke declined to comment on the dispute.
When questioned by Gript earlier this month, Foley said she was unfamiliar with ‘What’s the T?’ and repeatedly stated that parents should have input into the material their children consume.
The controversy has also drawn attention to Children’s Books Ireland, which receives public funding through the Arts Council. RTÉ subsequently removed a link to the organisation’s reading guide from an online news article, citing what it described as “age appropriateness” concerns.
RTÉ remove Pride book link over “age appropriateness” concerns
Gript also reported last week that a teacher wrote to Foley in 2023 raising concerns about the contents of the same book. The correspondence included images of pages which the sender described as “totally unsuitable for children”.
A Department spokesperson later reiterated Foley’s position that she had no prior knowledge of the book.
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