Our Advocacy Work

Our Advocacy Work

30 October 2022

New Atheist Ireland report – Schools are still defying the law on admission policies

Two years ago, in October 2020, we published a report on how 100 sample schools were defying the legal requirement to publish an Admission Policy which must include details of the school’s arrangements for students who do not want to attend religious instruction. We brought...

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18 October 2022

Department of Education misusing public funds by ignoring constitutional rights

Since last December, Atheist Ireland has been lobbying to vindicate the constitutional right to not attend religious instruction in schools, and to uphold parental authority in the education of their children, which the Supreme Court has described as a foundational pillar of the Constitution. You...

16 October 2022

Religious school ethos should not influence social, personal, and health education

Atheist Ireland has made the following submission to the NCCA’s consultation on the updated junior cycle SPHE curriculum. The aim of the updated short course is ‘to nurture students’ self-awareness and positive self-worth and to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills, dispositions and values that will...

6 October 2022

Atheist Ireland submission to UN on combating intolerance based on religion or belief

Atheist Ireland has made the following submission to the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights who is preparing report on combating intolerance against persons based on religion or belief. Contents 1. Background to Atheist Ireland 2. Our recommendations 3. The UN and States should use...

2 October 2022

Atheist Ireland, Evangelical Alliance, and Ahmadi Muslims update the UN on rights of children

Atheist Ireland, the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland, and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Ireland, made a joint submission to the UN Children’s Rights Committee as it prepares to question Ireland next January. You can read that submission here. We also met with the UN Committee...

1 October 2022

Atheist Ireland lobbying at the United Nations for the rights of children in Irish schools

Atheist Ireland was at the United Nations in Geneva this week lobbying for the rights of children in Irish schools that discriminate on the ground of religion. We also represented the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Ireland, with whom we...

25 September 2022

Revealed: The Philosophy and Ethical Code of the Religious Sisters of Charity Health Service

This week John Hamill obtained a copy of the Religious Sisters of Charity Health Service Philosophy and Ethical Code under the Freedom of Information Act. The Saint Vincent’s Hospital Group had refused to give it to him, but John appealed and the Office of the...

18 September 2022

Is the Catholic Church really moving sacramental preparation out of schools?

Reports that the Catholic Church in Dublin is to start moving the preparation of children for sacraments out of the classroom are welcome, but they are exaggerated when compared to the full policy document published by the Archdiocese. The full policy document says that schools...

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11 September 2022

Religion and Belief in the Charities Amendment Bill

Atheist Ireland has made the following submission to the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands about Religion and Belief in the Charities Amendment Bill. Contents 1. Introduction to Atheist Ireland 2. Our recommendation 3. Amend ‘Religion’ to ‘Religion or...

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4 September 2022

Ireland needs a secular constitution, Atheist Ireland tells Seanad committee

Atheist Ireland has made the following submission to the Seanad Public Consultation Committee on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland. Contents 1. Executive Summary 2. Recommendations 3. Remove Specific References to God 4. Replace Religious Oaths for Public Office Holders 5. Amend Articles...