News

5 March 2014

Oireachtas Committee calls for integration not segregation in schools, as proposed by Atheist Ireland

The Oireachtas joint Committee on Education has concluded that multiple patronage and ethos as a basis for policy can lead to segregation and inequality in the education system, and that the objectives of admission policy should be equality and integration. This reflects the arguments made...

25 February 2014

Rules for secular marriage? The Irish Civil Registration Service is making it up as they go along

In Ireland, to solemnise marriages under the Civil Registration Act, secular bodies must be ethical and humanist and cannot promote a political cause. On the other hand if you are a religious body that wants to solemnise marriages, you are not required to be ethical...

19 February 2014

When You Gaze at the Universe

When You Gaze at the Universe is a song by Pat McGinley from Derry about the power of science and the failure of religion to explain the awe-inspiring wonders of the universe. “Milky Way Rise over Yavapai, Grand Canyon” by Yogendra174 is licensed under CC...

6 February 2014

Atheist Ireland second letter to Ombudsman for Children about religious discrimination in schools

Atheist Ireland has sent the following letter to the Ombudsman for Children, about the advice that she has given to the Minister for Education on religious discrimination in admission to primary schools. Our first letter to her on this issue is here. Dear Ms Logan,...

31 January 2014

The Louise O’Keeffe judgment could begin the end of state-supported religious discrimination in Irish schools

This week’s European Court judgment in the Louise O’Keeffe case changes everything in the campaign for secular education in Ireland. The State was arguing that it was not responsible for protecting Louise O’Keeffe’s human rights while she was in school, because the State did not...

29 January 2014

Protect our basic human rights by separating Church and State

Atheist Ireland has made a final submission to the Irish Constitutional Convention, asking its members to recommend a secular Constitution that respects equally the human rights of all citizens, regardless of our religious or nonreligious beliefs. The Convention members are meeting this weekend in Dublin...

29 January 2014

Flawed blasphemy report would maintain religious privilege

The Irish Constitutional Convention has reported to the Government on the issue of blasphemy, which the Convention discussed last November. The report recommends that the offence of blasphemy is removed and replaced with a new general provision to include a prohibition on incitement to religious...

29 December 2013

Jane Donnelly telling Dail Committee that Irish schools breach human rights law

This is video of Jane Donnelly of Atheist Ireland addressing the Oireachtas Committee on Education on 11 December about discrimination against secular parents and their children in Irish schools. Opening Statement – Irish schools breach human rights Answering Question – Respecting secularism Summary – Discrimination...

17 December 2013

Children's Ombudsman must help to protect children of secular parents from religious integrated curriculum

Atheist Ireland has sent the following letter to the Ombudsman for Children, about the need to protect the human rights of secular parents and their children from the religious integrated curriculum in denominational Irish primary schools: Dear Ms Logan, We welcome the intent of your...

17 December 2013

Children’s Ombudsman must help to protect children of secular parents from religious integrated curriculum

Atheist Ireland has sent the following letter to the Ombudsman for Children, about the need to protect the human rights of secular parents and their children from the religious integrated curriculum in denominational Irish primary schools: Dear Ms Logan, We welcome the intent of your...