Schools & Education

The problems with the draft SPHE syllabus

David Quinn of the Iona Institute was interviewed on Premier Christian Radio in the UK about the draft of a new Social Personal and Health Education programme for Leaving Certificate students. He expresses concerns about what it will teach about abortion, sexual consent, gender ideology, “allyship” and “privilege”. He says if denominational schools are forced...

In Defence of Catholic Healthcare: A talk by David Quinn

David Quinn, Chief Executive of The Iona Institute, recently delivered the 4th Rosemary Sheehan Memorial Lecture. His theme was ‘In Defence of Catholic Healthcare’. In his talk, he reminded people of the immense contribution Catholics have made to healthcare in Ireland and worldwide both historically and down to the present day. He explained the origins...

Another UN committee pushes a radical agenda on Ireland

Once again, a UN body is pushing a radical agenda on Ireland at the behest of Irish NGOs. This includes allowing 16 and 17 years olds to identify as a different gender to their biological sex, ensuring free access to abortion for adolescent girls, and further undermining the rights of faith-based schools. This time the...

David Quinn debates subsidies for day-care

David Quinn was on the Pat Kenny Show about State subsidies for day-care. He argued that the State is discriminating against all other child-care choices, including the wish to mind your own children at home. He said the State should give money directly to parents so they can spend it on the child-care option they...

NCCA confirms worst suspicions of parents about gender ideology

Many Parents have expressed serious concerns about proposed changes to the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) curriculum for junior cycle students (age 12-15). These are stated in response to a consultation process initiated by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). Their primary issues are about how ‘gender identity’ and pornography will be taught...

Submission to the NCCA concerning the draft SPHE/RSE programme

THE National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has recently published its draft programme for the Junior Certificate Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum, which includes Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE). We have major concerns about what it proposes regarding pornography, consent and gender identity. Specifically, we ask if the programme means schools will...

Will Modern Ireland Tolerate Catholic Schools?’ (Full version)

WHAT will Catholic and other faith-based schools be allowed to teach in the future? This is the crucial question theologian and chairman of The Iona Institute, Dr John Murray, asks in our new paper, ‘Will Modern Ireland Tolerate Catholic Schools?’ As Ireland continues to change and becomes more multi-cultural, will the pressure increase on faith-based schools...

The radical approach to sex education backed by the HSE

“Pornography to be studied in class”, said the front page of the Irish Independent last week, which is alarming at first glance, but much depends on how this is done because some HSE-backed researchers believe porn can be both ‘ethical’ and ‘positive’. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is currently redesigning the Relationships...

David Quinn debates the future of religious schools

David Quinn was on the Pat Kenny Show last week debating the future of Church-run schools. He said one reason that more Catholic schools have not been divested is because in practice there is not much demand from parents to do so. You can listen to the item here.

A big victory for the rights of parents

The right of parents to choose how to educate their children has been upheld by the Supreme Court in a major ruling published on Monday. It unanimously dismissed the appeal of the Minister of Education against two home-schooled students who were excluded from the Leaving Cert calculated grades scheme. Their exclusion interfered with the constitutional...