Our Advocacy Work

Our Advocacy Work

24 April 2022

Combating intolerance against persons based on religion or belief

Atheist Ireland has made the following input to a United Nations report about combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatisation, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons, based on religion or belief, as set forth in UN Resolution 76/157. Contents 1. The need to consistently use...

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22 April 2022

Atheist Ireland writes to Minister for Finance about misuse of public funds in Irish schools

Atheist Ireland has written the following letter to Paschal Donohoe TD, Minister for FInance, regarding the misuse of public funds in Irish schools. Dear Minister Donohoe, We wish to make a complaint about the misuse of public funds in relation to the criteria by which...

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22 April 2022

Review of Termination of Pregnancy Act

Atheist Ireland has made the following submission to the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. Which parts of the Act have not operated well? Conscientious objection: Nearly 50% of maternity hospitals do not provide full abortion services,...

31 March 2022

The State should not give the Catholic Church control of state-funded hospitals

The Irish Constitution was heavily influenced by the Catholic Church. There are Articles in the Irish Constitution that favour religion and protect the interests of religious institutions. There are Constitutional reasons why governments should not fund religious institutions to deliver public services. Publicly funded hospitals...

15 March 2022

The National Maternity Hospital and the Catholic Bishops’ Code of Ethics for Healthcare

Atheist Ireland has made the following submission to the Joint Oireachtas Health Committee on Constitutional issues regarding the National Maternity Hospital and the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Code of Ethical Standards for Healthcare. Contents 1. Introduction to Atheist Ireland 2. Article 44.2.5 of the Constitution and...

7 March 2022

The National Maternity Hospital and Article 44 of the Constitution

In a democratic republic, the State should own and directly run the national maternity hospital. It should not cede control over this essential public service to any private institution, such as Saint Vincent’s Holdings. Our Constitution was heavily influenced by Catholic Church teaching. There are...

27 February 2022

New Draft Primary Curriculum must respect rights of atheists as decided by the courts

The NCCA is holding a Public Consultation on the new Draft Primary Curriculum Framework. Atheist Ireland has prepared the following Submission. Contents 1. Introduction 2. The Burke Case and the Campaign case at the Supreme Court 3. The right to respect for our philosophical convictions...

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18 February 2022

Protect nonreligious beliefs, say Atheist Ireland and IHREC

The Department of Justice is reviewing the Equal Status Act and the Employment Equality Acts. Atheist Ireland made a Submission which you can find here. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission also made a submission, which you can find here. In the Venice Commission...

17 February 2022

The misuse of public funds in administering the right to not attend religious instruction

Atheist Ireland recently made a complaint to the Irish Comptroller and Auditor General about the misuse of public funds regarding the teaching of religion in Irish schools. We have now written a follow-up letter regarding the implications of the the recent Burke case at the...

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17 February 2022

Amend Employment Equality Act, say Atheist Ireland and IHREC

The Department of Justice is reviewing the Equal Status Act and the Employment Equality Acts. Atheist Ireland made a Submission which you can find here. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission also made a submission, which you can find here. Atheist Ireland’s recommendations include:...