News

11 January 2021

Atheist Ireland letter to BAI about ‘blasphemous’ RTE comedy sketch

Atheist Ireland has sent the following letter to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. Dear BAI, We understand that RTE is reporting itself to the BAI for breaching your Code of Programme Standards regarding a comedy sketch broadcast on its New Years Eve Countdown show. While...

10 January 2021

Secular Sunday #472 – The Ghost of Ireland Past

This week’s Secular Sunday. To avoid missing out, sign up here to receive Secular Sunday by email   Editorial The Ghost of Ireland Past   This week RTE backed down to demands that they remove a supposedly blasphemous comedy sketch from their online player. The...

10 January 2021

Forcing respect for 160+ beliefs is impractical, and undermines freedom of expression

The right to freedom of conscience, religion and belief is one of the foundations of a democratic society. We have listed in this article over 150 religions that are recognised in Ireland, and ten nonreligious philosophical convictions that Human Rights law gives the same status...

7 January 2021

Is my Family Odd About God Special Offer

**Schools special offer** As Covid continues and schools start back online, Atheist Ireland are offering the book ‘Is my family odd about gods‘ free (excluding postage and packaging). This means that you can get this book for the total price of 10 euro. This offer...

4 January 2021

There is no right to not be offended, and it’s okay to challenge not respect beliefs

RTE, the National Broadcaster, has apologised for any offence that may have been caused by a Waterford Whispers News sketch on New Year’s Eve Countdown show. The Catholic Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin had complained that the item was offensive and blasphemous. Atheist Ireland has...

3 January 2021

Irish constitution gives parents more rights than human rights laws do

Irish parents have more rights in relation to the education of their children under the Irish Constitution than they have under human rights law. The United Nations and the Council of Europe constantly raise the issue of the failure of the Irish State to protect...

3 January 2021

Secular Sunday #471 – Bishops want ‘blasphemous’ item removed

This week’s Secular Sunday. To avoid missing out, sign up here to receive Secular Sunday by email *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   Editorial Bishops want ‘blasphemous’ item removed   Happy new year to all of our readers! The Catholic Bishops have started the new year by returning to...

1 January 2021

Archbishop wants ‘blasphemous’ item removed

Catholic Archbishop Eamon Martin has called on RTE to immediately remove a television clip which he says it is offensive, outrageous, and blasphemous. He was complaining about RTE’s New Year’s Eve Countdown Show, which included a mock news review by Waterford Whispers News. The mock...

29 December 2020

Schools and teachers should not ask students about their beliefs

Irish schools and teachers regularly breach the right to freedom of religion and belief of students and families. Teachers are not trained to understand the practical application of the right to freedom of religion and belief, or the positive and negative aspects of it. Freedom...

27 December 2020

Secular Sunday #470 – An eventful year

This week’s Secular Sunday. To avoid missing out, sign up here to receive Secular Sunday by email   Editorial An eventful year   Atheist Ireland has had an eventful 2020. The blasphemy law was finally removed from the Statute books, the Government is removing religious...