Letter from Atheist Ireland to Ombudsman for Children about Education (Amendment) Bill 2010
Dear Ms Logan, In your capacity as advocate for children’s rights we are writing to inform you that Atheist Ireland is objecting to the Education (Amendment) Bill 2010 on the grounds that it will not guarantee and protect the Human Rights of children and non-religious parents in the education system. ...
First review of Dail debate on Education (Amendment) Bill 2010
This is a review by our Lobbying Officer Conor McGrath of some of the key features of this debate from the perspective of Atheist Ireland, so that we can then go on to think about what sort of briefing we might want to provide at the Committee Stage. (more…)
Brief by Atheist Ireland for Minister and TDs about Education (Amendment) Bill 2010
This brief by Atheist Ireland details our concerns about the arrangements for the governance of new Vocational Education Committee primary schools, as proposed in Section 5 of the Education (Amendment) Bill 2010. The brief was prepared by our Education Officer Jane Donnelly and our Lobbying Officer Conor McGrath. Introduction 1. The ...
Minister publishes Education (Amendment) Bill 2010 to allow VEC primary schools
Tanaiste and Education Minister Mary Coughlan has published legislation which will allow a new type of primary school run by Vocational Educational Committees. Minister Coughlan said of the Education (Amendment) Bill 2010: "A new model of community national school, which is being piloted in two locations in Dublin since September 2008 and ...
New pilot VEC primary schools should not teach faith formation within school hours
Atheist Ireland agrees with Educate Together and with the Humanist Association of Ireland that children should not be separated according to their religion in the new pilot VEC primary schools, and that there should not be faith formation within school hours. Atheist Ireland believes that State education should be secular. ...
Secular Education and Human Rights, by Jane Donnelly
Education is a human right. According to Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Irish State absolves itself of the responsibility to educate ...