Politics

22 May 2019

Who should you vote for if you want State-run schools to respect the rights of atheists and secularists?

This Friday, 24th May, we will elect Local Councillors, who will also be members of Education and Training Boards and the Boards of Management of ETB Schools. Three weeks ago, Atheist Ireland wrote to all political parties, asking them to support the right of students...

19 May 2019

New report could give churches more privileged access to lobby EU institutions and Irish Government

The European Humanist Federation and Humanists International have expressed concern that proposals would give more influence to religious groups on European laws, and with national governments, in a dialogue process that Atheist Ireland takes part in. A report by European Parliament Vice President Mairead McGuinness,...

29 April 2019

Atheist Ireland questions for local election candidates about religion in ETB schools

Atheist Ireland has written today to all political parties that are contesting the Local Elections on 24th May, asking them to support the right of students to attend ETB schools without attending religion classes, and for students who do not attend religion classes to be...

28 March 2019

Atheist Ireland calls for stronger regulation of funding of political campaigns

Atheist Ireland has made the following submission to the Public Consultation Process on the Establishment of a New Electoral Commission. Once it has been considered, the submission will be published on the website of the Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government. Recommendations The SIPO...

10 March 2019

How State Schools Break The Rules – New Report from Atheist Ireland

Atheist Ireland has published a major new report titled How State Schools Break The Rules. It explains how the Department of Education, the ETBs, and the NCCA are breaching Constitutional and Human Rights and the IHREC Act in Religious Education in ETB schools. We will...

28 October 2018

Atheist Ireland welcomes removal of medieval crime of blasphemy

The people of Ireland have finally removed the medieval crime of blasphemy from our constitution, after a decade of campaigning by Atheist Ireland to have this referendum held. We will now continue to lobby for other secular changes, including ending the religious oath for President...

26 October 2018

Atheist Ireland welcomes positive exit poll figures on blasphemy referendum

Exit polls suggest that today’s Yes vote might be between 69% (Irish Times exit poll) and 71% (RTE exit poll). We must remember that these are only exit polls, and not the official result of the vote, which we will not know until tomorrow or...

4 August 2018

Yet again, a Presidential election that excludes conscientious atheists

Yet again Ireland is to hold a Presidential election that excludes conscientious atheists as candidates, as in order to take office we would have to swear a religious oath that is in our Constitution. This would force us to dissemble about our beliefs, and breaches...

18 July 2018

Atheist Ireland to meet Department of Justice today to discuss new blasphemy repeal bill

Atheist Ireland welcomes the published wording of the proposed amendment of the Constitution on around 25 October to repeal the offence of blasphemy. Atheist Ireland will be meeting this afternoon with officials in the Department of Justice, to clarify any technical or logistical questions that...

25 April 2018

Atheist Ireland asks Charities Regulator if Iona Institute is complying with Charities Act

Atheist Ireland wrote to the Charities Regulator in April 2018, asking it to investigate whether the Iona Institute is complying with the Charities Act. Update: The Regulator replied in June 2018, concluding that the Iona Institute is complying with the Act. The Regulator also stated...