Education

17 July 2018

Catholic Church admits studying religion is a disadvantage, but wants the State to impose it anyway

The Catholic Church has acknowledged that studying religion in school, instead of other subjects, puts students at a disadvantage, and it is trying to insist that State-run schools make all students suffer that disadvantage. This is revealed in an article in the Irish Times by...

11 July 2018

Atheist Ireland welcomes part of Schools Admissions Bill and continues our work for secular schools

The Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill has now passed in the Dail. From September the vast majority of schools will no longer be able to discriminate in entry on the grounds of religion. However, minority religious schools can still continue to discriminate as they still...

13 June 2018

Atheist Ireland asks Oireachtas Committee for objective sex education without religious ethos

Jane Donnelly, Human Rights Officer of Atheist Ireland, yesterday gave evidence to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education about the need for objective sex education. Jane is pictured above with Cliona Saidlear of Rape Crisis Network Ireland, Aoife Neary of University of Limerick, and Debbie...

9 June 2018

Atheist Ireland promotes secular schools at European Policy Conference On Equality in Education

Jane Donnelly of Atheist Ireland today promoted the need for secular schools at a European Policy Conference in Limerick on Equality in Education, hosted by Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada. Jane made the case for ending all religious discrimination and privilege in Irish schools,...

9 May 2018

Atheist Ireland, Evangelical Alliance, and Ahmadi Muslims welcome plan to end religious discrimination in access to schools

Minister for Education Richard Bruton has announced plans to prohibit State-funded primary schools run by the Catholic Church from discriminating in access on the ground of religion, but which will allow State-funded schools run by minority religions to continue to discriminate on the ground of...

25 April 2018

Despite TUI claims, the Directive on alternatives to religious education can be implemented

Recently on RTE, in a debate with Atheist Ireland’s Michael Nugent, the General Secretary of the Teachers Union of Ireland said his Union would refuse to even try to implement the new Directive allowing students to choose another subject instead of religion in ETB schools....

23 April 2018

Atheist Ireland Writes To Bishop Leahy About Religion School Books

Atheist Ireland has written to Bishop Brendan Leahy, as part of efforts to ensure that there is a competitive market for school books in Ireland, which operates in the best interests of consumers. A competitive market is required to ensure that thousands of parents and...

20 April 2018

Atheist Ireland asks Oireachtas Education Committee to support objective sex education

Atheist Ireland has made a comprehensive submission to the Oireachtas Education Committee, asking it to support objective sex education in Irish schools, based on the framework of Solidarity’s Objective Sex Education Bill. You can read Atheist Ireland’s submission here. Our four recommendations to the Oireachtas...

19 April 2018

Atheist Ireland delighted at passing of Solidarity’s Objective Sex Education Bill

Atheist Ireland is delighted that Solidarity’s Objective Sex Education Bill has passed its first vote today in the Dail. It will now go on to be debated at Committee stage. Along with our allies in other groups who support this Bill, we will now lobby...

14 April 2018

Atheist Ireland sends briefing document to TDs on Objective Sex Education Bill

Atheist Ireland has written to all TDs and Senators seeking support for Solidarity’s Objective Sex Education Bill, which will be proposed in the Dail on Wednesday, 18 April 2018. If passed, this Bill will guarantee that all children in Irish schools have access to objective...