News

WAC
6 June 2021

Ten Years Since the Dublin Declaration

A decade ago, on Sunday the 5th of June 2011, the final session of the 3 day World Atheist Convention in Dublin was held. At that session the Dublin Declaration was discussed and adopted. This addressed the role of secularism and the place of religion...

30 May 2021

Secular Sunday #492 -The rights of atheist and secular parents in Irish schools

This week’s Secular Sunday. To avoid missing out, sign up here to receive Secular Sunday by email *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   Editorial The rights of atheist and secular parents in Irish schools   Last week we reported that the Department of Education is ignoring a Supreme Court...

30 May 2021

Another court judgment that supports the rights of atheist and secular parents

In Ireland parents have a constitutional right to raise their children in accordance with their philosophical convictions. The State is constitutionally obliged to respect that right in the education system. Despite this Church and State continue to ignore the findings of the courts in Ireland...

24 May 2021

NCCA removes names of Religious Education Reference Group members from its website

The syllabus Religious Education Course was updated in 2019. The NCCA recently removed from its website the names of the Religious Education Reference Group members who shaped the course. In the interests of transparency, we have published their names below. This Religious Education Reference Group...

Photo of Leinster House
18 May 2021

Government Department policies clash on Freedom of Speech

The government has two different policies in relation to freedom of speech. The Department of Justice has published its policy on a way forward to protect freedom of speech in the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2021. However the Department of...

16 May 2021

Secular Sunday #490 – Pressure increases against new Catholic Sex Ed course

This week’s Secular Sunday. To avoid missing out, sign up here to receive Secular Sunday by email *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   Editorial Pressure increases against new Catholic Sex Ed course   Pressure increased this week against the new Catholic Sex Education programme Flourish, which will tell primary...

14 May 2021

Education Minister cannot rely on NCCA to deliver objective sex education – the law must change

In the Dail yesterday Donnchadh O’Laoghaire from Sinn Fein asked the Minister for Education about sex education in schools. You can view and read the full exchange here. In her response the Minister acknowledged that RSE was an important right for students. She also said...

14 May 2021

Education minister repeats pledge to change law if necessary to ensure inclusive sex education

In the Dail yesterday Donnchadh O’Laoghaire from Sinn Fein asked the Minister for Education about sex education in schools. The Catholic Bishops have introduced a course called Flourish to primary schools. Flourish is Catholic sex education, and the programme is to be taught alongside curriculum...

14 May 2021

Sinn Féin supports changes in law to ensure that inclusive sex education is delivered uniformly

Sinn Féin supports changes in the law to ensure that inclusive sex education is delivered uniformly across all schools regardless of the religious ethos of the patron. The party has told Atheist Ireland that: “Sinn Féin share your view that, legislative reform of Relationships and...

14 May 2021

Solidarity and People Before Profit TDs say Objective Sex Education Bill must be passed

Solidarity and People Before Profit TDs say the Oireachtas should pass their Objective Sex Education Bill, to ensure that school ethos cannot influence the delivery of sex education by the Catholic Bishops in their role as patrons of most of our schools. Paul Murphy TD...