Politics

9 December 2013

Constitutional Convention insults secular citizens with 2% vote to discuss Church and State

The Irish Constitutional Convention has responded insultingly to the many citizens who asked it to discuss Separation of Church and State. Only 2% of Convention members have voted to discuss the topic, despite it receiving more support than any other topic in the Convention’s public...

19 November 2013

Atheist Ireland Submission to Department of Education on Promoting Greater Inclusiveness in Primary Schools

Atheist Ireland has today sent this submission to the Department of Education on inclusiveness in primary schools. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Respecting Secularism as a Philosophical Conviction 3. Rule 68 – Religious Integrated Curriculum 4. Other Specific Recommendations 5. Conclusion “This state is a Republic,...

19 November 2013

First, Fix the Foundation: Separate Church and State

Atheist Ireland has already made the following submission to the Constitutional Convention: A Secular Constitution for a Pluralist People Today we have sent this two page supplementary submission: We have already made a submission to you on the need for a Secular Constitution with Separation...

17 November 2013

Secular Sunday #99 – Into the West

There’s a lot going on this week, all over the country. If you’re in Galway in particular, make sure to check out either or both of Atheist Ireland’s events there. See the Calendar section for full details. I will be spending most of the coming...

13 November 2013

Atheist Ireland submission to Equality Authority on Employment Equality Act

Atheist Ireland has sent the following submission to the Equality Authority, regarding a proposed amendment to Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act 1998-2011. This is the Section that allows religious, educational or medical institutions to discriminate against employees or potential employees who do not...

6 November 2013

Please continue to make submissions about Church and State to the Constitutional Convention

There has been a huge surge in Church and State submissions in recent weeks. However, the Convention members seemed to show little interest in adding it to the final item on their agenda when they met last weekend. When we started asking for submissions two...

2 November 2013

Atheist Ireland speeches about blasphemy at the Constitutional Convention

Michael Nugent, Prof David Nash and Jane Donnelly, on behalf of Atheist Ireland, made the following three speeches today at the Constitutional Convention meeting about blasphemy law. They run from 2:42 – 11:44 on the video. Speech by Michael Nugent, Chairperson Atheist Ireland (2:42 –...

31 October 2013

Submission from Atheist Ireland on the Draft General Scheme of an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2013

Atheist Ireland today made the following submission on the Draft General Scheme of an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2013. Contents 1 Introduction 2 Executive Summary 3 Atheist Ireland Conclusions 4 Atheist Ireland Recommendations 5 Head 3 – Requirement that an Admission Policy states that...

26 October 2013

The Equality Authority is seeking Submissions on the Proposed amendment to Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act 1998-2011.

The Equality Authority has given some background to the Proposed Amendment:- “Background You may also be aware that The Programme for Government stated: “People of non-faith or minority religious backgrounds and publicly identified LGBT people should not be deterred from training or taking up employment...

20 October 2013

Secular Sunday #95 – Fighting The Good Fight

We’ve had another very busy week. I say we but I really mean my fellow committee members who have mostly been working very hard; all I have to do is compile everything they’ve done in this dominical digest. I think I’ve got everything. Anything I...