General

4 February 2025

Fáilte go Éire Aindiach

Tá roinnt leathanach tábhachtacha ónár suíomh gréasáin aistrithe go Gaeilge ag Atheist Ireland. Is féidir leat iad a aimsiú ag an nasc seo a leanas: Éire Aindiach Má tá aon mholtaí agat maidir le conas is féidir linn an Ghaeilge a chur san áireamh inár...

14 January 2025

Most Irish second level schools are Catholic or Interdenominational

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...

6 January 2025

European Convention and the exemption procedure from religion in Irish schools

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,...

13 December 2024

Atheism and secularism are philosophical convictions

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...

12 December 2024

Department of Education delegates their duty to schools

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...

10 December 2024

State aid to schools affects prejudicially the right to not attend religious instruction

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...

11 November 2024

Atheist Ireland questions for general election candidates 2024

Atheist Ireland is asking the political parties and candidates, who are contesting the General Election on 29th November, to answer these ten questions about secular policies. We will publish the responses to assist you in deciding who to vote for. Please ask your own local...

30 September 2024

Oireachtas and Minister abdicate their duty to vindicate right to not attend religious instruction

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...

17 July 2024

Atheist Ireland letter to Ministers re Incitement to Hatred Bill and recent European Court case

Atheist Ireland has written the following letter to the Minister for Justice, Taoiseach, Tanaiste, and Minister for Equality regarding the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill and the recent Sokolovskiy v. Russia case at the European Court of Human Rights....

22 May 2024

How the Department of Education went beyond its powers by judging on parents’ constitutional rights

In February 2018 the School Governance Section of the Dept of Education issued Circular Letter 0013/2018. Circular Letters are ‘policy’; the purpose of the policy was to oblige ETBs to offer students, who are not taking religion, another subject. At the time we were told...