Paul Murphy Raises Alarm Over New Library Parental-Consent Rule
Paul Murphy raised concerns in the Dáil about far-right activists targeting libraries and a change in LGMA guidance requiring written parental permission before young people can move into older youth sections. He said the change concedes to pressure and risks denying age-appropriate LGBTQ+ material to young people.
Allegations of far-right library disruptions
Libraries have become the new target of far-right activists, Murphy said, who have been removing books that refer to LGBTQ plus people in a positive light and abusing staff, calling them paedophiles and groomers. He compared the behaviour to Nazi book burnings and warned of the cultural danger.
State response and Garda involvement
Murphy reported that Garda escorted far-right activists into a library so they could speak to staff, and he said he did not understand why that happened. He asked whether the Taoiseach and Government had discussed the incidents and the wider implications for staff safety and public access.
LGMA change to youth access policy
Murphy outlined a recent LGMA instruction changing the procedure for young people accessing youth sections. Previously, once a young person turned 12 they could access the 12-14 young adult section and at 15 they could access the 15-17 section; the new rule requires express written parental permission to move into the next age bracket.
Concerns about censorship and Government response
Murphy said the policy appears to be an "incredible concession" to far-right activists that could allow homophobic parents to block access to age-appropriate material. The Taoiseach replied that the issue had not been discussed by Government, or at least not at Cabinet, said he was not aware of particular issues brought to attention and said he would despair at a return to banning books and restricting children from age-appropriate material, citing concerns about developments in the United States.
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Taoiseach, I want to ask about libraries. Libraries have become the new target of far-right activists who have been going into libraries, removing any books that refer to LGBTQ plus people in any sort of positive light, and abusing staff, calling them paedophiles, groomers and so on. It is obviously reminiscent of the book burnings carried out by the Nazis. But one of the worrying parts of this is how the state has responded. So two weeks ago, the Gardie escorted far-right activists into a library in order that they could speak to staff and give their opinions across and so on. I have no idea why that happened. I don't know if the Taoiseach does. But also new instructions have been issued by the LGMA to libraries, changing the procedure whereby young people can get books out. So as it previously was, once a young person goes from under 12 to 12, they are then able to access books in the young adult 12 to 14 section. They go to 15, they go to 15, they are able to access young adult 15 to 17 books. That policy has now been changed whereby they need to get express written permission from their parents to move on and be able to access books. It seems to be an incredible concession to these far-right activists, giving them precisely what they want and creating a scenario whereby if a young person has, for example, a homophobic parent who does not want them accessing age-appropriate material, let me stress that is what we are talking about. Can I ask, has the Government discussed this? Surely this policy should be reversed and young people should be able to get age-appropriate material in the libraries? Just on the issue on libraries, it has not been discussed by Government or at least not by Cabinet. I am not aware of any particular issues being brought to our attention in that regard, although I am concerned about what I have heard here in the Chamber. I would despair if we end up going back to a world where people are told that certain books are banned or that children are not allowed to see material that is appropriate to their age. I see what is going on in the States and I hope we are not going to start seeing that happening here. Hello. Thank you so much for your temeth?
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