European Court of Human Rights Archives

July 11, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

Please ask your TDs to ensure that all abuse victims in Louise O’Keeffe case get compensation

Please contact your local TDs and ask them to ensure that all the victims of abuse in Irish schools, similar to that in the Louise O'Keeffe case, get justice and compensation. The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar has apologised to victims of abuse in day schools. But the State has for the ...

June 9, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

How the Irish education system indoctrinates atheists and religious minorities

The Irish Constitution obliges the State to respect the inalienable right of parents to ensure the education of their children is in conformity with their convictions. The European Court of Human Rights has defined indoctrination in the education system as not ‘respecting’ parents’ convictions. Despite this, Church and State in ...

June 7, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

Teaching more than one religion can be indoctrination, and you have a right to not attend the NCCA religion class

The Minister for Education, Joe McHugh, and the Department of Education are now claiming that if a class is teaching one religion then it is religious instruction, and if it is teaching a number of religions then it is religious education. They go on to claim that, because of this, ...

February 18, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

New Junior Cycle Religious Education course still breaches constitutional and human rights

The new specification for the Junior Cycle Religious Education curriculum, due to be introduced in schools in September 2019, disrespects the rights of parents who seek secular education for their children based on human rights. The new course reflects the disrespect that the State has for non-religious parents and their children. ...

August 25, 2017 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

New case shows that the Irish State directly imposes a Catholic ethos in ETB Schools

A recent case at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) vindicates the position of Atheist Ireland in relation to religion in the Education & Training Board (ETB) schools and colleges. We have consistently argued that ETB schools are run as religious schools, and that most of them have a Catholic or ...

August 23, 2017 1 Comment Teach Dont Preach

The right to opt out of religion classes is not enough to respect parents’ convictions

The right to Opt out of Religion in Irish Schools is not enough to ensure respect for the philosophical convictions of Atheist and Secular parents. In Ireland, Atheist and secular parents are second class citizens. Church and state are pursuing an aim of indoctrination, by not respecting and protecting the ...

June 5, 2017 1 Comment ADMlN

The Irish Education System is unique in the control that the State gives to churches

The Irish Education system is unique in the control that the State gives to churches. Comparing State funding of faith schools in other countries with the Irish education system is misleading. This is because, in the countries that do fund faith schools, most children attend a parallel system of non-denominational ...

January 18, 2017 No Comments ADMlN

How Minister Bruton’s new proposals would intensify breaches of absolute human rights

The Minister for Education Richard Bruton has outlined four options in relation to an Admissions School Policy. None of the Options that he outlined comply with Ireland’s Human Rights obligations, and Option 4 would undermine those rights further. Children have a human right to access to their local school without ...

January 16, 2017 No Comments ADMlN

Education Minister’s plan to change Baptism rule, but strengthen school ethos, will strengthen religious discrimination

The Minister for Education has today announced deeply flawed proposals to amend the Baptism rule for access to State-funded schools, but without changing the law on school ethos. What seems to be the best of the four options in the plan, removing the baptism rule completely, is actually the worst, ...

November 1, 2016 No Comments ADMlN

Patronage system undermines the rights of parents and children

The Patronage system has reduced education to a competition for parental preference. It manufactures consent on the basis of a limited choice. Parents and their children are faced with a choice between a limited number of Patron bodies, and these Patron bodies have control over the application of their human ...