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Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton has said she knows nothing about the controversial book “What’s the T?” by Juno Dawson, despite weeks of public controversy surrounding the publication and repeated questions about its recommendation to minors.
Speaking during Oral Questions in the Dáil this week, the Fine Gael Minister was challenged by Aontú TD Paul Lawless over what action, if any, had been taken by the Department of Education after concerns were raised about the book, which contains graphic sexual content and was promoted to children by Children’s Books Ireland and RTÉ.
Lawless referred to reports that a teacher had emailed the Department about the book in March 2023, while former Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan had also personally raised concerns with Naughton’s predecessor, Norma Foley, in December of that year.
He also noted that despite those concerns, the book had continued to be recommended as a resource for children.
“What has the Department done since this controversy broke?” Lawless asked.
“What review has happened? Can the Minister outline to the House the results of that review, if it took place at all?”
Responding, Naughton said she was unsure what exactly Lawless was referring to.
“I do not know exactly what the Deputy is asking me in relation to the Department of education,” she said.
“I do not know if it is a book used in schools but, so the Deputy understands how it works, in regard to schools that use textbooks or other teaching and learning resources, that is a matter for the individual school. Decisions around materials are made at a whole-school level.
“Textbooks are commercially produced and my Department does not endorse publications, products or services from individual, commercial or other providers. Any concerns regarding material included in specific textbooks should be raised with relevant publishers.”
Lawless then pressed the Minister directly on whether she was aware of the controversy surrounding What’s the T?
“Is the Minister aware of the controversy surrounding the What’s the T? book by Juno Dawson?” he asked.
“Is she aware that the book was promoted by Children’s Books Ireland? That is very important.”
He argued that responsibility ultimately rested with the Education Minister.
“The idea that the Minister would say she is basically not responsible is, I believe, questionable,” Lawless said.
“She is the Minister for education; the buck stops with her.”
He added that it was the Minister’s responsibility “to make sure no child will be subjected to sexually explicit, age-inappropriate material in our schools and libraries and promoted by Children’s Books Ireland and RTÉ.”
After Lawless again asked whether she was aware of the book, Naughton replied that she had not read it.
“I have not read that book,” she said.
“But what I can tell the Deputy in relation to our education system is that, be it social, personal and health education, SPHE, or relationships and sexuality education, RSE, there is a huge amount of consultation between schools and parents.”
She went on to say teachers receive extensive training and that schools ensure lessons are age appropriate.
“Our teachers are so well trained in this country to make sure that when they are engaging in SPHE, for example, they are ensuring that all of our children are in a safe and supported environment within our schools and that any lessons are age appropriate,” she said.
The exchange comes after weeks of scrutiny surrounding ‘What’s the T?’, which was included in a Pride-themed reading list compiled by Children’s Books Ireland recommending titles for readers aged 15 and over.
The book contains explicit descriptions of sexual acts, including instructions relating to anal sex, the use of sex toys and other graphic sexual content.
Last month, a Gript video in which this journalist questioned then-Education Minister Norma Foley about the book accumulated more than one million views across social media platforms. During that exchange, Foley also said she had no prior knowledge of the publication.
RTÉ subsequently removed a link from one of its news articles directing readers to the Children’s Books Ireland reading list, citing “age appropriateness matters”.
RTÉ remove Pride book link over “age appropriateness” concerns
Gript also reported last month that former Fine Gael Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan claimed he had personally warned Foley about ‘What’s the T?’ in late 2023 after concerns were raised with him by parents, which Foley and the Department did not directly deny when asked.
I told Foley about explicit book in 2023, says ex-FG minister
Separately, Gript revealed that a teacher had emailed the Department of Education in March 2023 warning about the contents of the same book and describing it as “totally unsuitable for children”, attaching photographs of pages containing explicit material.
Foley was emailed about controversial book as far back as 2023
The controversy has also prompted political reaction elsewhere. Last month, five different Sinn Féin TDs told Gript they could not comment on the issue because they were unfamiliar with the book, despite
Sinn Féin TDs not aware of controversial book for 15-year-olds
Meanwhile Aontú leader Peadar ToibÃn called for Children’s Books Ireland to appear before an Oireachtas Committee to explain its inclusion in the reading list.
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