BOOK ROW 

Government faces fresh questions as book with ‘explicit adult sexual material’ removed from Junior Cert list, Political Correspondent

• Published: 17:07, 6 Apr 2023
• Updated: 17:07, 6 Apr 2023

THE Government has been urged to explain how a book which discusses anal sex and the use of phone apps for casual sex ended up on the junior cert school reading list.

The HSE has agreed to remove This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson from its sexual education resources list for schools.

The non-fiction book focuses on sexuality and being gay, bisexual, transgender and more in an open and frank manner.

The book was included on the HSE’s resources list for the junior cert when children are aged from 12 and up.

The book’s place on the list caused controversy due to some of the material included such as talk about phone apps being used for casual sex.

Aontu’s Paedar Toibin is calling on Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Education Minister Norma Foley to explain how the book ended up on the school reading list.It also discusses a range of other highly sexual themes.