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Updated at 09.30pm
THE GROUP AT the centre of the ‘sellotape sex education’ controversy have said that they don’t have a negative view of sex.
Anne O’Reilly from the group Pure in Heart, whose activities in one school were unveiled in TheJournal.ie earlier this month, appeared on Sean O’Rourke’s RTÉ 1 radio show today.
Charitable organisation
She described Pure in Heart as a “charitable organisation” founded in 2000 by a group of young adults who “believed in the dignity and value of every person”. Its members have made the decision to keep sexual activity until after marriage.
One young student told TheJournal.ie that the group spent two hours at his school talking about how abstinence was “god’s way and how we should seek to live by this”.
O’Reilly said today that the Pure In Heart members had educated themselves about sexuality and relationships, with the “aim of imparting that information to other young people so that they could make an informed decision about their own lifestyle choice in relation to sexuality”.
She said that they “realise this is a very different view to what the world proposes today”.
Standalone organisation
Pure in Heart was described as a “standalone Irish charitable organisation”, with O’Reilly saying that some groups in other countries had taken their model to use.
She described the feedback from schools as “overwhelmingly positive”, with a number of schools inviting them back for more talks.
So many students came up to us and said we wish we’d heard the talk sooner.
O’Reilly also spoke about the “early sexualisation” of teenagers , saying it “is taking hold” and that “casual sex is so prevalent nowadays”.
“Not that we’re forcing this message on them,” she said of abstinence, describing it as “a proposal”.
While three Pure in Heart members give the talks, the organisation has over 100 members who are under 35 years of age.
Self gratification
When asked about claims that Pure in Heart told one school group that “self gratification” can lead to depression, O’Reilly said they “don’t focus on that in our talks and it’s not part of the content of our talks”.
She suggested that the comment may have come up in the context of a student asking about this, adding that in the past some students have come up to Pure in Heart team members “and said they had addictions in this area and it was making them depressed”.
O’Reilly also said that they don’t focus on contraception in their talks, but they do “touch on” the topic.
Asked whether the group was of interest to students who were already sexually active, she said they say to them “listen, it’s not about your past; you can always go into the future” with new options.
Sellotape game
On the subject of the role play game where two students were connected by their wrists with sellotape, O’Reilly said that “they weren’t bound together” but that the sellotape at the wrist was used to represent the “bond and memories that a sexual relationship creates” and how “when they break they can be painful”.
On the issue of consent, Pure in Heart does offer a consent form to schools, which they can give to parents. It also offers to give the talk to parents before it is given to the pupils.
O’Reilly said that could do over 100 talks a year, and that the talks are done on a voluntary basis. Some schools may give donations, which can go towards petrol, an overnight stay if needed, and the general running of Pure in Heart.
O’Reilly said that the group doesn’t “have a negative view of sex” and that “we see it as very positive in waiting until you’re married to have sex”.
She added that the group’s message is for everyone whether they have a faith or not.
First published 12.22pm
This is how those who think they are unaccountable feel about those who would try and hold them to account.
@Dave Doyle: No, this is how those trying to do their best with limited resources feel when hounded by a bunch of short-term, ignorant politicians scrambling to score quick political points at the expense of those who actually do the work that the politicians take credit for.
@Dr Richard DeWitt:
What planet are you Richard?
Have you forgotten the Tunnel , Luas, Broadband , case after case of mind numbing incompetence from our cosseted and grossly overpaid Civil Service bosses.
@Barry Foster: I am not a planet Barry, but thanks for asking.
Besides all that, the Sec Gen probably earns around 180k. That’s a take home of less than 9k per month. While it may seem like a lot of money to many, this guy has responsibility beyond the imagination of most people. And, let’s not forget, the vast, vast majority of his staff are earning nothing like that – typical 40-70k salaries I would imagine.
@Dr Richard DeWitt: The purpose of the Public Accounts Committee is to scrutinize how etc public money is spent from Accounting Officers of Government Departments and Government funded agencies taking into account C&AG Report’s(who attends all meetings)& in my opinion they are an excellent hardworking Committee.
Governments form policies which are then carried out by Departments.
PAC has done tremendous work re many issues eg Garda College Scandal, Cervical Check,etc.It is their duty to ask questions and scrutinize public spending,value for money,etc.
@Dr Richard DeWitt:
Sorry Richard but you really do seem to be at a considerable distance from reality. You mention the Sec.Gen (180K) as having a very responsible job but he is not accountable in the true sense of the word and in keeping with large swathes of the Public Sector will never be fired or even sanctioned . The Sec Gen. would need to actually physically assault somebody before he might lose his job.
Senior Civil servants who denigrate PAC verbally or simply do not appear before them when requested to do so illustrate in no uncertain terms the problems which are rife at the higher levels of our Public Sector.
Some if the committee’s are a mob… politicians showboating their feigned outrage at the public service … nobody ever gets fired … demoted or any other sanctions … down with this sort if stuff.
@John Kelly: What I heard on radio the other day is that many of the committee members come and go during a session. They come, ask their question AKA showboating, then leave. Disgraceful carry on, they get paid extra to sit on these committees which in itself is wrong.
@John Kelly: I think you need folks who have a bit of a thick skin to ask the hard questions. Without these type of folks, the powers to be would have to answer to no one. I think we need people that ask the hard questions
@James Wallace:
Agreed. Most of this committee is comprised of poorly educated self promoting individuals who constantly engage in poorly researched showboating rants. The Supreme Court agreed with this assessment in their judgment last week in relation to the case concerning the lady from Rehab.
@Dan: We do … but this format isn’t working .. it’s turned into a showboating exercise .. especially the shinners and in fairness they are good at asking awkward questions and expressing outrage but they get nowhere unfortunately..
@Colonel Grant: 100% agree. Dail Committee’s have been brought into dispute by the actions of the PAC. There needs to be a total overhaul of how committees work, they are too important to be used for showboating and grandstanding. The first thing that needs to be done is that Oireachtas members on committees should stand aside from their political parties for the duration of their time on a committee. Their service is to the state not their political party especially given they are paid to sit on committees.
@Colonel Grant: the lady from rehab was destroyed in a non legally binding witchhunt… nothing was proven … deserves every penny she gets… not standing up for rehab btw… just the rights of the individual in our democracy…
@James Wallace: I cannot understand why a TD should get payed extra to be part of a committee.
@CrabaRev: getting paid extra for doing the job they’re already paid to do.
@James Wallace: They come and go if there are votes in the Dail!
I think the light bulb in Watt’s head is set on dim but he need not worry, he’ll meet no resistance.
He’s be right I’d say. A talking shop with tones of pseudo disgust and anger .
@Eugene Walsh: it’s not about him being right, it’s the attitude of these guys in these positions.
They don’t give one toss, they get well paid to spend other people’s money, and if it goes pear shaped .. so what?. They figure the common people are just muppets, and know well they can tie these clown committees in knots.
These civil servants are insulting the public by refusing to be held to account. Imagine the boss saying he wants to see you in his office and you refused,you would be sacked,legislation must be brought forward to hold these people to account.
@@mdmak33: The guy on the committee is not his boss. The minister of his dept is his boss
@Ronan Fahy: Accounting Officers of Government Departments are obligated to attend PAC & to answer questions!
The PAC is comprised of self serving crawthumpers seeking media exposure by sound bytes of self righteous indignation. At times the committee adopt the mob mentality to achieve this exposure.
Based on the appalling treatment the PAC meted out to Rehab’s Angela Kearns, Mr Watson’s alleged description of the PAC as “a mob” is entirely accurate and well justified.
Its probably more like a mob alright when its made up of incompetent politicians.
Imagine when you’ve got suitable qualifications, rose up the civil service rankings, got every job and promotion through rigourous job interviews, and at the end of it all, your boss is a grossly incompetent career politician with little more than a few years of local county council work experience. You’d be pulling your hair out with them, if you had any left.
Thats pretty much the whole of the FF and FG parties, which makes them grossly unfit for national gov.
Some of the TDs involved in the various committees cannot help themselves. On one hand most are woefully inexperienced and unqualified in the matters they are examining and feel they have “carte blanche” to disregard their witnesses rights in their quest for the “truth.” If this approach results in juicy broadcastable soundbites which gain them cheap populist publicity then they consider it a perk. Judical committees are a safer type of procedure.
It just shows these people have never been held accountable for any of there actions and when somebody questions them they literally shite a brick and throw the rattler out of cradle.
This guy(Watt) needs to be moved to a less onerous position which requires no common sense or diplomacy
@Niall Nordell: yeah like out the door altogether
These comments demonstrate the attitude within the Public Sector hierarchy to being called to account for gross incompetence. No heads will roll ,and in a very short time we will again be presented with more instances of gross cost overruns, whether it’s a Tunnel, a Luas Line, Broadband contract or a Hospital we should be getting used to it by now .
It’s so typically Irish unelected State employees think they are unaccountable to us the Irish people.
It’s simple answer the questions and account for the expenditure and don’t feel it’s your duty to protect those who are inept including line ministers.
Christina in the article you write that he intended to offend but it must be Not intended.
PAC meetings can be found on Oireachtas Debates as transcripts and their numerous Reports there also.From reading comments not many have accessed these transcripts or Reports which is a pity as I feel PAC unfairly critisized!
Marc macsharry, was his Dad a friend of Charlie ? And European Commissioner ?
Give him and his colleague their P45s
We all know that Robbie Watt is a quality public servant from his personal performance over the years, but he & all public servants need to respect & acknowledge, that the elected Dail & Government depend on them for the effective administration of the state.
These Dail committees presently have a pile of administrative failings to examine, despite huge expenditures on consultancies before, during, & after capital projects, & whilst some elected TDs can overstep from frustration or showboating, it is a very necessary process.
We want to see our taxes used properly, you are all accountable, so leave your annoyance at some TDs back in the office, please.
have your say