Quinn denies hypocrisy claims over bullying
Welcoming a major effort to target bullies, particularly those using social media to assert homophobic or racist attitudes, Mr Quinn said he wanted to see the reform of section 37 of the 1998 Employment Equality Act which provokes widespread concern in teachers and medical staff at religious-run schools and hospitals that they could lose their jobs on the grounds of their sexual orientation.
But despite equality campaigners warning the clause fuelled a culture of tolerating homophobia in schools, the minister insisted there was no connection to the anti-bullying campaign.
“I think they are separate issues. I am not aware of anyone who has been sacked for being gay. We have concerns about that section. It is an issue of which I am aware,” he said.
Gay and Lesbian Equality Network director Brian Sheehan warned the section added to a homophobic culture in schools.
“Section 37 has a direct chill factor for gay and lesbian teachers. They do not feel they can be open and so that denies young gay pupils role models. The section also contributes to a culture of tolerance of homophobic bullying in schools,” he said.
Labour and Fine Gael blocked a bid by Fianna Fáil senator Averil Power to clarify the section and remove its discriminatory elements in the Oireachtas last year, with Justice Minister Alan Shatter saying more consultation on the matter was needed with the Catholic Church and others.
The new Action Plan on Bullying urges a crackdown to prevent and tackle homophobic and trans-phobic bullying in particular. The plan recommends schools create a system for recording bullying incidents.
The plan calls on schools to target the nine grounds of harassment outlined in equality legislation, including sexual orientation, religion, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community.
Mr Quinn broadly accepted the recommendations of the bullying working group and said action was needed to combat suicide.
“I think it is a sad reality that certain suicides of young people were connected with bullying and cyberbullying and that has highlighted the need for such a plan,” he said.
He said parents needed more support to learn how to monitor their children’s cyber activities: “That’s the intention — to recognise that there are many people involved in this, not just the young people themselves.”
Children’s minister Frances Fitzgerald said parents need to obtain “awareness of the online lives” their children have.
The report is clear on the fact that parents and other adults who interact with young people have a huge role in preventing bullying.
They can also support children who are being bullied, have bullied someone else, or have witnessed bullying, according to the Working Group whose report influenced the action plan. The report says parents need to:
*Be good role models;
*Teach young people to respect and value difference and diversity;
*Understand different forms of bullying;
*Take an interest in how children use the internet, social media and phones.
*Recognise signs that a young person may be bullied;
*Listen to what a child wants done to help.
The report also points to the importance of how early childhood experiences can influence later behaviour and says strong social and emotional skills should be supported from an early age.
The media also has a role to play, it says, and the report recommends the Press Council of Ireland consider expanding its code of practice to include responsible reporting of bullying under the section dealing with reporting about children. It is also suggested that standards like those in guidelines on reporting of suicide be adopted in relation to reporting of bullying.
Schools might also be asked to teach social, personal and health education (SPHE) through to the end of second level, and publishers will be asked by the Department of Education to look at stereotyping in materials for schools.
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