Sinead Murray:

This issue has come up in the context of all-girls' schools. In my town, there is an all-girls' school and an all-boys' school. I am in transition year and we are starting to be offered activities that are for the students from both schools. If we want effective interaction while still having two single-sex schools, it should start with shared activities from a younger age, such as bonding days in first year, instead of when we are all 16 or 17. At that age, it is a little awkward, whereas in first year, people will still know other people from their primary school.

The Senator mentioned consent. I was fortunate to work on a new, more inclusive RSE curriculum. Over the next couple of years, there will be a real focus on consent. That is vital, especially as pupils prepare for going into a third level setting, where it is a whole new and completely different experience, they are away from home and all of that. We need more education around the topics of consent, sexual safety and so on. Everyone will benefit crucially from that.