A guide funded by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission advised students had a legal right for schools to use their preferred pronouns. The ICCL guide, funded by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), cited “Department of Education guidelines” when advising that students had a legal right for schools to use their preferred pronouns. Instead, it has advised schools that there is “nothing to preclude them” from using a student’s preferred pronouns if they decide to do so in consultation with parents and the student. They received assistance from the ICCL, the Free Legal Advice Centre and the LGTBQI+ Legal Advice Clinic. “There is no right in law for anyone to force someone else to use their ‘preferred pronouns’.

Source: The Irish Times January 22, 2026 09:03 UTC