Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

First of all I want to say that I respect everyone's sexual orientation, whatever it is. Equal treatment of all has to be respected. However, like many others, I am very concerned about what is happening to minors, the early transitioning of minors, the shift in focus at Pride events, the influence of the transgender movement on minors and potential connections to paedophilia advocacy, the lack of scientific evidence for medical interventions, the denial of biological reality, the role of political, academic and corporate elites, the impact on women's sports, censorship of opposing views and the inclusion of gender-related primary school curriculum. It also highlight the emphasis on support, love and psychological treatment for children and the fear of being labelled as bigots.

On the early transitioning of minors, I think it is wrong that teachers in primary schools have been advised by Ireland's National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, a part of the Department of Education, to incorporate topics such as cross-dressing, drag and various gender identities into the primary school curriculum. That is totally wrong. Teachers are discouraged from using the phrase "boys and girls". We have to respect nature. It is very wrong to be confusing young children into making them feel that they are not sure whether they are boys or girls. The time will come when they will grow up to decide. Parents and parents alone have the role in helping their children along the way and helping them to develop. They know when it is right to teach children the way of life and the way ahead. It is very confusing this thing about using same-sex toilets for boys and girls. It leaves the door open for vulnerable children to be bullied or harassed. That is something that we must all seek to ensure does not happen. Again Minister, we have to respect nature. Until such time that boys or girls, whatever, whenever they decide or if they ever decide that they want to change, they should be grown up enough to do that. Surely we are not going to tell children that 25 December is not going to come this year or next year.

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