Irish Constitution Archives | Page 2 of 4

May 1, 2016 No Comments admin

The spiritual census!

Some people have suggested that those who ticked the ‘no religion’ box in the census may be spiritual, and therefore in some way more religious than atheist. There was no specific box in the recent census to tick if you see yourself as spiritual and also religious. You had the option of ...

January 7, 2016 No Comments admin

Give us this day our human rights

Joe Humphreys seems to think that Atheist Ireland's campaign for our constitutional and human rights in Irish schools is counterproductive. Either that, or he isn't aware of our years of comprehensive policies and patient lobbying on the issue, which seems unlikely, as he used to be the Irish Times Education Correspondent. He seems ...

November 3, 2015 1 Comment admin

“We’ll let your child in if we have space available”: Well thanks, we are so grateful!

The Claire Byrne show last night on RTE discussed religious discrimination in access to schools. On one side we had Paddy Monahan arguing for the removal of religious discrimination in access (Section 7-3(c) of the Equal Status Act). On the other side we had David Quinn of the Iona Institute ...

September 4, 2015 No Comments Michael Nugent

Are the Schools Equality PACT reforms, to protect human rights, unconstitutional?

This document should be read alongside the Schools Equality PACT, which asks the Irish Parliament to urgently pass a comprehensive Schools Equality Bill to reform the current State-funded religious discrimination. The PACT (Patronage, Access, Curriculum, Teaching) describes the changes that are collectively needed. The Irish Government claims that removing this ...

July 28, 2015 No Comments admin

Human Rights violations in the Irish Education System

The Irish education system discriminates against minorities and undermines human rights. The 1995 Constitutional review Group said Article 44.2.4 of the Irish Constitution, which sanctions state funding of denominational schools, was also meant to protect the rights of minorities. The United Nations and Council of Europe have made eight Recommendations ...

July 9, 2015 No Comments Michael Nugent

Atheist Ireland to lobby EU, as Irish State says EU sanctions discrimination against atheist teachers

After today’s Seanad debate, the Bill to protect teachers from religious discrimination in schools will still not protect atheist or religious minority teachers at all, including Protestant or Muslim teachers, who cannot access the teaching profession in Ireland. Atheist Ireland will be conducting an intensive lobbying campaign about this between ...

January 23, 2015 No Comments admin

Are “Catholic first” Admission Policies unconstitutional? Equality Authority report endorses Atheist Ireland arguments

Atheist Ireland’s ongoing campaign to ensure that publicly funded schools do not discriminate on religious grounds is picking up pace, with our arguments effectively endorsed by both the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission, the two bodies that have recently merged to form the new Irish Human Rights ...

September 15, 2014 1 Comment admin

Religious Crests on school uniforms are symbols of discrimination.

Religious Crests on school uniforms symbols of discrimination Atheist Ireland welcomes the comments of the Anglican Archbishop of Dublin regarding religious crests on school uniforms. In an article in the Sunday Independent Archbishop Michael Jackson (Anglican Archbishop of Dublin and Glendalough) said there should be "scope for negotiation" around the ...

August 9, 2014 No Comments admin

How Irish law effectively prohibits non-denominational secular schools based on human rights

Irish law bans non-denominational schools - state forces education "religious ethos" control Irish law effectively prohibits non-denominational secular schools based on human rights, despite the Irish Government telling the UN Human Rights Committee last month that there are no obstacles to establishing such schools in Ireland. The Government did outline ...

August 3, 2014 1 Comment admin

Children have a human right to a neutral studying environment, even in denominational schools

Children have right to non-religious schooling - UN Human Rights Committee Last month Ireland appeared before the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva under the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR). Every five years the UN questions Ireland in relation to their human rights obligations under the Covenant. ...