Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Micheál Martin have called for imposing radical gender theory in the new primary school curriculum, despite a call from Catholic educationalists to leave it out and ‘let children be children’.

The Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA) wrote to the Children’s Minister arguing that there is a lack of scientific consensus on the issue, that it would create division in schools, and that it might add to “a growing psychological contagion” among children.

Mr Martin described the letter opposing the imposition of gender theory in the new course as “not the way to deal with these issues”. Gender ideology teaches that your ‘gender’ and biological sex have no necessary connection.

Asked if he was in favour of primary schoolchildren being taught about such matters, Mr Varadkar said: “I am. I think the purpose of the education system is to prepare children for life, to teach them about the world. Trans people exist, they’ve always existed, and I think it makes more sense in schools to just inform children about the world around them.”