Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----but one cannot just up-end the entire system on which our education system is based without consulting the partners involved. I certainly hope many of them will appear before the education committee. I am sure members of Solidarity who are not members of the education committee will be able to attend its hearings and ask questions in the most thorough fashion.

It is the case that the Minister's review has come at a critical juncture. While issues of sexual abuse and harassment are mentioned in the original relationship and sexuality education syllabus, there is no mention of consent and its importance. We really have to send out the message that what has happened to women, and also men, over decades and centuries is not acceptable anymore and must stop. The education system must play a role in fostering an ethos of respect, consent and equality. We have to do that. The best possible way to do so is not to legislate, which could possibly end up in court cases based on the wording of the legislation, but to leave it to the experts in the NCCA. We are doing that, on balance. We believe this process will end before this legislation could possibly be passed. I would love it if the Minister could give a commitment outlining how long the NCCA process would take and when we will see a new curriculum in schools. That has not been addressed by the Minister. In fairness to him, however, this review comes on foot of various recommendations. It is comprehensive and deals with many issues that need to be addressed. It deals with pretty much all the issues that have been raised in Solidarity's Bill.

It is wrong to legislate for curricula. We do not want circumstances like those in certain parts of the United States, where elections are fought and won on the basis of what should be in curricula. It is not a good way to proceed. We are better off leaving it out of the political system. Obviously politicians have a role, and the Minister clearly has taken the initiative to get the NCCA to start the review, but the job should be left to the experts and kept out of the political sphere. We hope this will lead to better and more comprehensive education for young people, and we hope all interested parties will be able to contribute in this regard.

See this speech in context