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Child safeguarding campaigners have called for major changes to education and safeguarding policy after presenting their concerns directly to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
At an event hosted by Independent Senator Sharon Keogan on Wednesday evening, the Child Safeguarding Coalition Ireland addressed TDs and Senators on issues including educational content, parental involvement in schools, safeguarding frameworks, and curriculum governance.
The coalition, which describes itself as an independent national organisation focused on child safeguarding and parental rights, was formed by a number of campaigning groups including Genspect, the Natural Women’s Council, the Countess, Parents’ Rights Alliance, and the Irish Education Alliance.
The presentation comes amid ongoing public debate surrounding educational materials, including the inclusion of the controverisal book “What’s the T?” by Juno Dawson on a Children’s Books Ireland reading list, who listed it as appropriate for minors as young as 15.
This has drawn scrutiny and criticism over the fact the book features graphic content, including instructions on how to participate in anal sex (which it describes as “sexyfuntime”) using lubricant and cleaning out one’s rectum; descriptions of foot fetishes; the use of sex toys like dildos and vibrators; and more.
Notably, this book list was promoted in an RTÉ News article in recent weeks, and Children’s Books Ireland itself is a State-funded NGO in receipt of taxpayer money via the Arts Council.
Significantly, RTÉ has since removed the link to the book list over what they described as “age appropriateness” matters.
The coalition said the controversy had contributed to broader concerns among some parents regarding transparency and oversight in educational decision-making.
Opening the event, Senator Keogan argued that concerns raised by parents warranted greater scrutiny.
“Let’s be clear: if this material were truly uncontroversial, age-appropriate and widely supported, there would be no need for confusion or deception from our own Government,” she said.
“The lack of candour we have seen speaks for itself. Today is about cutting through that, and this coalition is about cutting through that. To be clear, nobody here is opposed to proper education about sex or relationships. We all accept our responsibilities as parents. But there is a clear line between age-appropriate education and material that many of us would not accept in our own homes.”
The event was attended by several TDs and Senators, including Independent TD Carol Nolan, who said the issue required a stronger response from the State.
“The evidence is mounting that there is a malign determination to expose young children and very young ‘adults’ to content of the most extreme kind,” Nolan said.
“The State’s response at Departmental level cannot be one of inexcusable indifference or claims of lack of knowledge. This issue must be tackled once and for all with unambiguously clear guidelines and enforcement actions that fully protect children from content that has no place in a child’s life or educational journey.”
The coalition’s presentation featured contributions from Jana Lunden, barrister Laoise de Brún, psychologist Dr Stella O’Malley, Dr Niamh Regan, Lynda Derham, and Eugene Garvin.
Lunden said the group’s focus was safeguarding rather than political debate.
“Tonight is about one subject and one subject only: child safeguarding,” she said.
“This is not about party politics. It is not about left or right. It is not about personalities. It is about children. Children get only one chance at childhood. As adults, our responsibility is to ensure that their wellbeing, education, and healthy development are protected.”
During the presentation, speakers discussed safeguarding practices in schools, parental involvement in educational decisions, and governance structures surrounding curriculum and library content.
De Brún argued that parental rights were not being sufficiently respected within current educational structures.
“Parents have robust and explicit constitutional rights as primary educators under Article and schools can only act in consultation with parents in matters related of their health and well-being,” she said.
“These rights are being circumvented via the Trojan horse of anti-bullying, Bí Cinealta, Aistear and the embedding of social justice theory throughout the curriculum rendering the opt out meaningless. The people voted to retain a traditional meaning of family, woman and mother in the last referendum but this has been ignored by a government who treats parents as if they are getting in the way.”
Dr. O’Malley also stressed the importance of safeguarding as a universal issue.
“Children get only one chance at childhood,” she said.
“Our responsibility as adults is to put children first. Safeguarding is not a culture war issue. Rich or poor, religious or secular, every child deserves protection and every parent deserves honesty.”
The coalition used the event to outline four policy proposals. These included statutory guidance prohibiting what it described as ideology in educational settings, greater parental consultation in educational decision-making, the withdrawal of the Bí Cineálta framework, and an independent audit of classroom, library, textbook, curriculum and online materials.
The organisation also called on the Department of Education to engage directly with parents and teachers regarding curriculum content and safeguarding policies.
In a statement issued following the event, the coalition said there should be ongoing dialogue between schools, families and the Department to ensure educational materials reflect both safeguarding responsibilities and the expectations of school communities.
Lunden also argued that urgent action was required.
“This is like a live experiment using our children as subjects with no informed consent or regard for child safeguarding,” she said.
“The collateral damage we will see is beyond thinking about, so we need to act now.”
The presentation took place a week after renewed scrutiny of What’s the T?, a book by Juno Dawson which appeared on a Pride-themed reading list compiled by Children’s Books Ireland.
The issue gained further attention after Children’s Minister Norma Foley said she was unfamiliar with the book when questioned by Gript last week.
Former Fine Gael Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan subsequently told Gript that he had personally raised concerns about the title with Foley in late 2023.
I told Foley about explicit book in 2023, says ex-FG minister
The coalition said the debate had highlighted wider questions around how educational materials are selected, reviewed and recommended for young people.
It also pointed to Department of Education survey findings which it said showed that 60% of parents in denominational primary schools wished to retain their school’s existing ethos. The coalition said this demonstrated the importance of parental preferences in education policy discussions.
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