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PRESS STATEMENT -this was sent to media this morning. Inappropriate books have been published – let’s see if this will be. ________________________ Subject: School Books Lack Sign-off PRESS STATEMENT FROM NATURAL WOMEN’S COUNCIL From the responses we have received from the Department of Education, it is clear that there is no formal sign-off process or child safeguarding oversight in place for school books currently used in Irish classrooms. The Department referred us to the publishers—who have refused to provide any risk assessments or child safeguarding documentation. You can also read the response from the Department of Education. We are also aware that Gill, one of the main publishers, has instructed staff not to engage with members of the public who express concerns. This represents a serious breach of basic child safeguarding principles. I have attached an email , from Gill CEO Margaret Burns, that was sent to me from a staff member. Also attached you will find the email from Folen’s publishing company who direct concerned parents to talk to the teacher. Teachers are overstretched and it should not be in their remit to deal with angry parents with regard to school books that have no signoff! Many of the materials in question contain highly sexualised content, promote gender ideology, and are infused with politicised messages rooted in Marxist theory. These resources were introduced without parental consultation, transparency, or proper vetting. No such content should be in any classroom without a full risk assessment and safeguarding statement. We also note that the gender-affirmative approach being promoted in some of these materials directly contradicts the findings of the UK’s Cass Report, which concluded that such approaches lack sufficient evidence and can pose significant risks to children. Furthermore, the UK Supreme Court recently ruled that the term “woman” refers to biological sex, not self-declared identity. It is high time the Irish education system aligned with international medical best practice and applied common sense—with child wellbeing at the forefront. We call on Minister for Education Helen McEntee to immediately withdraw these books and online toolkits from schools, pending a full and independent investigation. We also note that we previously offered to meet with former Minister Norma Foley to share our research and concerns, but she declined to engage. Our children deserve an education rooted in evidence, transparency, and care—not ideology Yours sincerely, Jana K. Lunden, on behalf of the Natural Women’s Council
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