The Department of Education recently released new figures on second level schools. Media reports last week incorrectly reported that most students are educated in multi-denominational schools. In fact: The vast majority of students (74%) are educated in denominational or interdenominational schools. The High Court has...
In Ireland there is no effective and accessible means of protecting the right of parents to ensure that the teaching of their children is in conformity with their convictions. There is no regulatory framework of adjudicatory and enforcement machinery protecting individuals’ rights and the implementation,...
Atheism and secularism are philosophical convictions. They are protected by Article 9 of the European convention and Article 44 of the Irish Constitution. They come under the ‘belief’ category in ‘Religion and beliefs’. You can have a religious belief or a philosophical belief; they are...
The Department of Education, delegates their duty in relation to students not attending religious instruction to schools. The only excuse they give for this behaviour is that “a one size fits all solution does not suit all parents”. There are no regulations or statutory guidelines...
We are constantly being told that there is not enough state aid to ensure that our children can attend any school in receipt of this aid and not attend religious instruction (Article 44.2.4 – Irish Constitution) This can only mean that the legislation providing state...
Atheist Ireland is taking a case to the courts in relation to the education system, and you can help if your family has been directly affected by religious discrimination in schools. Here’s the background. We have campaigned vigorously for years to change the education system....
It is the duty of the Minister for Education, Norma Foley under Section 30-2(e) of the Education Act 1998 to ensure that students do not attend any subject that is against the conscience of their parents. The Minister for Education, Norma Foley delegates her duty...
Why is curriculum Religious Education a ‘core subject’ in Irish schools? Catholic and ETB schools say it is in order to uphold the religious ethos of the school. But is this necessary and proportionate to pursue this aim? Before the curriculum Religious Education course and...
When parents seek to remove their child from religious instruction, many schools ignore their constitutional and legal duty to respect this right, and their legal duty to do this without shortening the school day of any student concerned. Some schools tell parents that they can’t...
The Constitutional rights that were meant to protect Irish families from religious teaching in publicly funded schools are simply ignored, and have been undermined over the years. Not only do our children not have access to non denominational secular education but they don’t have access...