Primary school teachers have condemned remarks made by managers of the country's Catholic primary schools about the teaching of trans issues in schools.
INTO members have instructed the union to write to the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association informing them of the union’s stance.
Debating an emergency motion in a private session, delegates at the union’s annual congress in Killarney said comments made by the CPSMA in a letter sent to Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman were insensitive and upsetting and they did not agree with them.
In the letter, CPSMA General Secretary Séamus Mulconry said that teaching school children about "what it means to be trans" would generate "unnecessary divisions in school communities" and might add to what he called "a growing psychological contagion amongst young and vulnerable children".
The letter was copied to Minister for Education Norma Foley.
The CPSMA represents managers of more than 90% of Irish primary schools, but in Killarney primary school teachers strongly backed a motion condemning the letter and its contents.
Such is the sensitivity of the issue and the concern around potential far-right attacks that the emergency motion was heard in a private session with the media excluded.
However, RTÉ News understands that it received very strong support from delegates, with just a handful voting against it.
It is understood that members of the union's leadership were among those who spoke in favour of the motion and that speakers referred to the upset felt by trans and non-binary teachers and also of teachers’ duty of care towards children who may be questioning their gender identities.
The emergency motion instructed the leadership of the union to write to the CPSMA outlining the union's concerns and to inform members of the communication.
In a separate motion, delegates welcomed "the timely review of the relationships and sexuality (RSE) curriculum which forms part of the Department of Education’s statutory guidance".
The current RSE curriculum is more than 24 years old and is widely acknowledged as inadequate in terms of meeting the needs of today’s students.
A new one is currently being developed and is due to be introduced in schools in the coming years.
Commenting after the debates the INTO’s General Secretary John Boyle said a culture of tolerance, equity, respectful professional discourse, inclusiveness and cooperation must be fostered in a modern education system.
"There is no room in our schools for prejudice or insensitivity towards staff or students in relation to their gender or with regards to any other equality ground", he said.
He added that the INTO was" proud to represent the many teachers doing incredible work to ensure that every pupil and teacher is safe and included in their school community".
He said: "Schools should and must be inclusive to all. As a union, we are, and will remain an unapologetic advocate for equality".
Mr Boyle said teachers played a key role in educating about diversity and supporting those who may feel vulnerable within school communities.
He added: "It’s essential that teachers are appropriately supported in this role by their boards of management and by the Department of Education".
