Secularism

23 February 2011

How did the parties and candidates reply to our questions on secular policies?

Atheist Ireland and the Humanist Association of Ireland are asking voters to vote for candidates who support secular policies in the Irish General Election this Friday. We realise that most people will vote based on economic policies or party allegiance. In such cases we are...

15 February 2011

Secular analysis of the Fine Gael manifesto

Written by Dr. Conor McGrath The main election manifesto of Fine Gael – titled ‘Let’s Get Ireland Working – can be found at http://www.finegael.ie/upload/docs/Manifesto.pdf. The document is lengthy and detailed, covering the whole range of government Departments and public sector activity. As the title indicates,...

13 February 2011

Secular analysis of the Workers' Party manifesto

Written by Dr Conor McGrath The main election manifesto of the Workers’ Party can be found at http://www.workerspartyireland.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/wpmanifesto.pdf. The document is fairly brief, and concentrates very heavily on economic policy. However, one section will be of interest to those with a secular perspective. Part of...

13 February 2011

Secular analysis of the Workers’ Party manifesto

Written by Dr Conor McGrath The main election manifesto of the Workers’ Party can be found at http://www.workerspartyireland.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/wpmanifesto.pdf. The document is fairly brief, and concentrates very heavily on economic policy. However, one section will be of interest to those with a secular perspective. Part of...

12 February 2011

Secular analysis of the Green Party manifesto

Written by Dr Conor McGrath The main Green Party manifesto – titled ‘Renewing Ireland’ – is available at http://vote.greenparty.ie/downloads/manifesto.pdf. The document covers the full range of government Departments, though doesn’t get into a huge amount of detail in many areas – banking reform, for instance,...

11 February 2011

Secular analysis of the Labour Party manifesto

Written by Dr Conor McGrath The main Labour Party manifesto – titled ‘One Ireland: Jobs, Reform, Fairness’ – is available at their website here. This is a lengthy and detailed manifesto, which covers the whole range of policy areas and government activity. It proposes many...

11 February 2011

Secular analysis of the Sinn Féin manifesto

Written by Dr Conor McGrath The main Sinn Féin manifesto – titled ‘There Is A Better Way’ – is available at http://www.sinnfein.ie/files/SF_GeneralElectionManifesto2011.pdf. The document is relatively short, concentrates heavily on economic recovery and public services, and lists a large number of (often uncosted) priorities without...

10 February 2011

Secular analysis of the Fianna Fáil manifesto

Written by Dr Conor McGrath Fianna Fáil: The main Fianna Fáil manifesto – titled ‘Real Plan, Better Future’ – is available at http://fail.3cdn.net/9bab6b928c527f3728_60am6gzlc.pdf. It is relatively short, and concentrates on only two areas – economic recovery, and political reform. From a secular perspective, the manifesto...

2 February 2011

Six Questions – Your Candidates Respond

Atheist Ireland has recently written to all constituent candidates asking them six questions on secular issues. Many of them have now responded and we will be publishing their replies as they come in. What can you do: Offer assistance to candidates who support our policies....

30 January 2011

Bertie Ahern says Catholic Church should be taxed on non-charitable income

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said that the Catholic Church should be taxed like other organisations on its non-charitable activities, particularly on its land of which it has a lot, given that the State needs the money. Ahern said this to Atheist Ireland Chairperson Michael...