Atheist Ireland

Atheist Ireland

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...

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...

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:...

16 February 2022

Amend Equal Status 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. Under the Equal Status...

10 February 2022

Defence Forces report calls for updating Chaplaincy and ending Catholic masses at induction

Atheist Ireland, the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland, and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Ireland welcome that the Report of the Commission of the Defence Forces, published yesterday, has recommended that: A number of outdated practices should be discontinued, including but not limited to the convening...

6 February 2022

The making of ‘Debutante’ and the power of film

‘Debutante’, a short Irish film about religious control and coming-of-age, has had a wonderful reaction since it was completed last year. It won Best Irish Fiction Short at the Kerry International Film Festival, and has three nominations for the Richard Harris International Film Festival. In...

1 February 2022

Burke judgment strengthens argument for right to not attend religious instruction

The Supreme Court has ruled in the Burke case that the Department of Education exceeded its jurisdiction, by disregarding the constitutional rights of home-schooled students when it was implementing a new leaving certificate scheme during the Covid pandemic. The Department had argued in the case...

28 January 2022

Minister for Education replies to Atheist Ireland about religion in schools and anti-abortion video

The Minister for Education Norma Foley has replied to a letter from Atheist Ireland about the right to not attend religious instruction in schools and a recent anti-abortion video shown in a school. Here is the Minister’s reply and our reply to her. Letter from...