One of the State's largest toy retailers has defended its decision to sell "Playboy" branded back-to-school goods, saying it is not its role to act as a censor and that sales are being driven by parental demand.
The goods, including pens, pencils, pencil cases and folders, are on sale in Byrnes World of Wonder stores and are typically marketed at primary and post-primary children.
A leading clinical psychologist, Dr Marie Murray, voiced concern about the impact of such material on children.
"My concern is that this is just another step in the commercialisation of childhood. What appear to be innocuous 'bunny rabbits' represent adult sexuality in a way that the child is not necessarily aware of," she said yesterday.
"This inadvertently links the child to this discourse. This is just one more step in grooming children and in the sexualisation of childhood objects."
"Like all brands targeted at children, a fabricated need is created, then it is said that the children want these things and then the children or parents are ultimately blamed."
Dr Murray is a contributor to The Irish Timesand is director of student counselling services at UCD.
The Catholic Primary School Management Association said it plans to tell its members that material carrying the logo promotes a lifestyle that would be contrary to the ethos of a Catholic school.
Monsignor Dan O'Connor, general secretary, also said it promotes the wrong attitude towards women. The association's standing committee will discuss the issue in September. He stressed that it was up to individual schools to decide on any move to ban the products. But the association would recommend that schools consult with parents and seriously consider formulating such a policy.
James Byrne, marketing director with Byrnes, which has 19 stores in Leinster and Munster, said it has stocked the range for the past two years.
The pencils, complete with silver pendant, are on sale for €1.99 each. A "Playboy" pen cost €4.99 and a large pencil case cost €7.99.
"Our stores are shopped by people of all ages. We feel our customers should be free to decide themselves what to buy," Mr Byrne said.
"We do not feel it is our role to act as a censor and this is an issue of parental choice."