Our Advocacy Work

Our Advocacy Work

18 February 2016

Irish Atheists, Evangelicals and Muslims unite for Secularism at Inter Belief Day

Jane Donnelly and Michael Nugent took part in a very positive Inter Belief Dialogue conference in Mary Immaculate College Limerick yesterday. There were representatives from the NCCA, which is currently preparing a State course for primary schools about religion, beliefs and ethics, as well as...

4 February 2016

New UN report issued today vindicates Atheist Ireland schools policy

Atheist Ireland welcomes the conclusions today from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child that Ireland should significantly increase the availability of non-denominational or multi-denominational schools, eliminate discrimination in school admissions including by amending the Equal Status Act, and ensure accessible options for...

17 January 2016

Come to the World Rationalist Conference in Tallinn, Estonia, on 23-24 April

Michael Nugent will be speaking at the next World Conference of Rationalist International, on 23-24 April, in the Baltic city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, a secular EU country. We hope to have some other Atheist Ireland members there also, and we look forward...

15 January 2016

How the Irish State misled the UN about religious discrimination in schools

The Irish State twice misled the UN yesterday in Geneva about religious discrimination in access to schools. In both cases, Atheist Ireland was there to explain the true position to the UN Committee, to enable them to question Ireland more accurately. Firstly, when answering questions...

13 January 2016

Atheist Ireland in Geneva this week at UN hearing on rights of the child

This Thursday, in Geneva, Atheist Ireland will be advocating for children in Irish schools, as the UN questions Ireland about its human rights record under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This is our sixth year raising religious discrimination in Ireland with the...

6 January 2016

RENUA election manifesto shows no understanding of religious discrimination

RENUA, one of Ireland’s new political parties, has launched its general election manifesto. It does not respect the human rights of atheist and secularists. RENUA not only fails to prioritise education reform, but it does not even understand the problem of religious discrimination in Irish...

4 December 2015

New Equal Participation in Schools Bill from Socialist Party/AAA

The Socialist Party/AAA has submitted a new Equal Participation in Schools Bill, which incorporates proposals from Atheist Ireland and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission on bringing about schools equality. The new Bill will propose fundamental changes to three of the four areas of...

2 December 2015

Atheist Ireland briefing document for TDs on today’s Equality Bill

Atheist Ireland has sent this briefing document to members of the Dail regarding the Committee and Report Stages today, Wednesday 2 December 2015, of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 Dear TD, Atheist Ireland is asking you to support the amendments that will be proposed...

PACT
2 December 2015

Socialist Party/AAA to propose votes today on Atheist Ireland Schools Equality PACT issues

Today the Dail will vote on the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which will protect Catholic LGBT teachers at the expense of reinforcing the right to discriminate against atheist and minority faith teachers of any sexuality. Following a meeting last week with Atheist Ireland, Ruth Coppinger,...

Jan O Sullivan
2 December 2015

Government intends to today betray its pledge to protect atheist teachers

Today the Dail will vote on the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which will protect Catholic LGBT teachers at the expense of reinforcing the right to discriminate against atheist and minority faith teachers of any sexuality. Please contact your TDs today to ask them to support...