Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge that there are very many societal concerns over sexual health and education, and rightly so. It is timely and important that a thorough review of sexual health education be undertaken, while appreciating that home and community also have a vital role to play.

I am Chairman of the Joint Committee and Education and Skills, which had agreed in its work programme for this year to undertake a review of SPHE, RSE and matters relating to contraception and consent in primary and post-primary schools, colleges, youth clubs and other organisations involved in education and interactions with young people. On foot of this, the committee agreed two weeks ago to seek written submissions from interested groups or individuals on this important matter. We will consider suitable written submissions and we will invite a number of contributors to public hearings. We have received a number of submissions and we expect to have three meetings. I remind those who are interested that the closing date for submissions is 12 noon on Friday, 20 April. Our report will be forwarded to the Minister and we expect that our examination of this subject, having listened to the experts and stakeholders, will feed into and help to inform the recently announced review of RSE in schools, which will be undertaken by the NCCA. We want to work hand in hand with them. It is important that this review be undertaken along the lines called for by both the Citizens' Assembly and the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution and that it cover both the content of the curriculum and support materials, as well as its delivery to students. My party would like the review to be carried out and concluded, and its recommendations implemented, as expeditiously as possible.

Sexual harassment has dominated the news in recent months. Research shows that the experience of unwanted sexual advances often begins at an early age. Shockingly, it sometimes happens at the age of 11 years or younger and we have to empower our young people to deal with this. Change is essential and an obvious starting point is to do this through the education system by, in particular, teaching about equality, respect and consent as well as contraception and sexuality. The current RSE curriculum is 20 years old and a 2007 evaluation revealed that implementation was lower in all-boy schools, which points to a wider issue in respect of gender inequality. Understanding and engaging with responsible sexual education within a broader social context is vital. A cultural shift is needed in the context of talking about sexism, sexual abuse and harassment. Currently, there is a huge disparity between schools regarding what elements of sexual education are taught, if, indeed, it is being taught. It is not necessarily an old-fashioned, religious or conservative view that holds teachers back regarding sex education. It is difficult for them. These are intimate subjects and we all know, having been in the classroom as students, how difficult it is when people are sniggering down the back. Others are not comfortable and they reflect their discomfort in different ways. It is, therefore, difficult for teachers to figure out the best approach. There is an onus on us to help them and I hope the work the committee does will help in that regard. Engendering awareness, respect and equality must be the cornerstone of future work and I look forward to engaging with committee members and NCCA officials in this.

See this speech in context