Advocacy

7 January 2017

Protecting the rights of atheist, secular and minority faith teachers in Irish schools

One of Atheist Ireland’s priorities this year will be campaigning for the right of atheists and religious minorities to access the teaching profession. As well as being able to legally discriminate against pupils and their parents, State funded Irish schools can also legally discriminate against...

17 December 2016

Atheist Ireland asks Citizens Assembly to respect individual conscience on abortion

Atheist Ireland has made the following submission to the Citizens Assembly on the subject of abortion. Making Abortion Illegal is Not a Settled Moral Value – Our Laws Should Respect Individual Conscience Contents About Atheist Ireland We support repeal of the Eighth Amendment Abortion should...

2 September 2016

Atheist Ireland Statement to the UN Human Rights Council

Atheist Ireland has given a written statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council as part of the final session of the Universal Periodic Review of Ireland. The Thirty Third session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) will take place from 13th – 30th of...

9 June 2016

Diversity and Choice = Religious Discrimination and Segregation

Atheist Ireland yesterday made this Submission to the Consultation process, started by the new Minister for Education Richard Bruton, on his Statement of Strategy 2016- 2018. Introduction Atheist Ireland is an Irish advocacy group. We promote atheism and reason over superstition and supernaturalism, and we...

23 March 2016

Catholic schools will not objectively teach new Religions, Beliefs and Ethics course

The Department of Education is planning a new primary school course of Education about Religions, Beliefs and Ethics. While this sounds good in theory, it will not be delivered objectively in practice. This is because the Irish State cedes control of the ethos of schools...

24 October 2015

Submission to Department of Justice for UN review of Ireland

Atheist Ireland submission for UN Human Rights Council review of Ireland: Atheist Ireland has made the following submission to the Department of Justice as part of the process of Ireland being reviewed by the United Nations Human Rights Council next year. Contents 1. About Atheist...

21 September 2015

Atheist Ireland report to UN for Universal Periodic Review of Ireland

Atheist Ireland submits report to UN for next Universal Periodic Review. Atheist Ireland has submitted the following report for the next United Nations Universal Periodic Review of Ireland’s human rights record. We will also be attending the review, to lobby the Council members about religious...

10 May 2015

Atheist Ireland to brief United Nations Committee in Geneva on breaches of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Next month, on 8th and 9th of June, Michael Nugent and Jane Donnelly will represent Atheist Ireland in Geneva, when the United Nations will be examining the Irish State about its human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. We...

14 April 2015

Atheist Ireland tells UN that Irish Constitution is incompatible with human rights obligations

Atheist Ireland today sent this submission to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which will be examining Ireland in June about its human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Atheist Ireland has already sent a submission...

14 March 2015

Atheist Ireland meets NCCA about exemption from ERB and Ethics course for Primary Schools

This week Jane Donnelly and Michael Nugent met with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to discuss our concerns about the proposed Education about Religions and Beliefs (ERB) and Ethics course for Primary Schools in Ireland. The Forum on Patronage and Pluralism recommended...