I am deeply concerned about the appointment of Roderic O’Gorman as Minister for Children.

You may be aware of the controversy circulating in social media about Minister O’Gorman’s association with Peter Tatchell, a man who openly writes about adults having sex with children and claims that children enjoy this (see above).

There may be no relationship between Roderic O’Gorman and Peter Tatchell apart from the fact that O’Gorman once stood beside Tatchell and welcomed him to Ireland at Pride 2 years ago.

But did O’Gorman know of Tatchell’s opinions and views on sex between adults and children?

O’Gorman needs to answer that, and to robustly disassociate himself from Tatchell and repudiate all views expressed by Tatchell.

He has not done so.

I am asking that Taoiseach Micheál Martin demands an explanation from Minister O’Gorman and strips him of office if he does not condemn Peter Tatchell for his support of the sexual abuse of children - because that is exactly what it is, and calling it by any other name is simply colluding with pedophilia!