Eoghan Harris (Independent)

It is with great reluctance that I rise to put on the record of the House my concern about today's report in The Irish Times that it is proposed to remove the poetry of Cathal Ó Searcaigh from the Leaving Certificate syllabus. I say "rise with reluctance" because it is almost impossible to say anything about this terrible matter without being misunderstood. For the record, I do not approve of the alleged actions of Cathal Ó Searcaigh, if he abused his position in a Third World country to secure sex with under age boys. That, however, has not been brought before a court nor proven. He has been tried, hanged, drawn and quartered without any proper trial or due process If he is found guilty, I am not defending him. However, I want it on the record that it is not a good thing in any society to talk about removing books from a syllabus. It is especially not a good thing in this House, where many more eloquent voices than mine have been raised to protest censorship, to propose to remove the work of one of Ireland's greatest homoerotic poets. The young people I teach and meet are well able to discuss the morality of these issues. It is patronising not to allow them to engage in the debate. Poetry does not come pre-moralised. Poets have had all sorts of lives. Poetry must engage us, force us to deal with ethical issues, to liberate our minds. It would be the best thing in the world if the boys and girls of Ireland were to engage with the politics and sexuality of Cathal Ó Searcaigh's poetry and with the moral issues raised by it. That would educate our people. I am glad to see many young people among our visitors today. I trust that every last one of them would be able to handle this issue.