Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I call for a debate regarding the content of the SPHE curriculum, an issue which has recently come to light regarding the portrayal of Irish families in the SPHE schoolbook, ironically titled All Different, All Equal, in which a deeply offensive and stereotypical caricature of what it means to be an Irish family is portrayed in the most condescending, baffling and unrealistic way. The Irish family in this book is not only outdated but also harmful. It suggests that if you love the GAA, run a family business, play Irish music, holiday in Ireland and support Irish film-making, you are somehow inferior, insular and narrow minded. This is a gross misrepresentation of the rich and diverse cultural heritage that we as a nation are proud of. Such depictions are not just laughable, they are damaging. They perpetuate harmful stereotypes and send a message to our young people that being authentically Irish is something to be ashamed of. This is unacceptable in any context but especially in our education system where we strive to promote inclusivity, respect and understanding. Such rhetoric is an import to this country from countries where school curricula attempt to reconcile their colonial pasts in which the native population of a land suffered oppression.

It is crucial that any historical or social education on Ireland's colonial past rightly acknowledges our place in the colonial history as the colonised, not the colonisers. The GAA, the Irish language and Irish music are products of the Gaelic revival. The revival was our assertion that our way of life will not be forgotten or erased in the face of an empire, colonisation or globalisation. We must remember that diversity is not just about embracing different cultures but also about respecting and valuing our own. I call on the Minister for Education to come to this Chamber and make statements on the mechanism through which schoolbooks are approved.