Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Neville and Ms Exton for attending. It is a pleasure to have them here, and it is very important that they are here. I have a couple of questions for them. Many submissions are sent to various committees. I do not tend to rank the ones that are most impressive, but that presented by Ms Neville and Ms Exton is up there. What some groups take 14 pages to say, they have captured in fewer. There is a real skill to that. I thank them for the submission.

The bystander intervention programme was mentioned, as was the good work that is being done. I agree that good work is being done at UCC. From the perspective of the witnesses, in terms of how we embed the necessary changes, what do they see as being the most critical next steps for the students they represent?

The ISSU representatives spoke of raising awareness, making promises and taking real and tangible action. What does that actually look like to them and those they represent? What do they want to see as a tangible outcome over the next year or six or 18 months, whatever the case may be? I congratulate them on the work they do. I will take this opportunity to wish them the very best as they continue to do it and continue to strive forward in this area. It is not an easy one. I have huge admiration for their group.

I will ask Mr. Byrne a couple of questions. Since he published the report in December 2020 containing the argument against sex segregation in post-primary schools, what engagement has he had with the Department of Education and the Teaching Council on that report? The dominant approach around relationships and sexuality education, RSE, is very focused on the risks and dangers in relationships as opposed to the more positive aspects of relationships and, more important, relationship building and how people manage the challenges within that. How does he see that being delivered in a school setting? I will come back to the ISSU witnesses very briefly. Have any of their members expressed an opinion on the changes they have seen over the past number of years in how RSE is currently being delivered? I will leave it at that for the moment.