Stop saying ‘opt out’ of religious instruction – the right is to ‘not attend’
There is a right under Article 44.2.4 of the Irish Constitution for students to 'not attend' religious instruction in publicly funded schools if that is against the conscience of their parents. This is sometimes informally referred to as the right to 'opt out'. However, the explicit right to 'not attend' ...
Minister for Education replies to Atheist Ireland about religion in schools and anti-abortion video
The Minister for Education Norma Foley has replied to a letter from Atheist Ireland about the right to not attend religious instruction in schools and a recent anti-abortion video shown in a school. Here is the Minister's reply and our reply to her. Letter from Minister for Education to Atheist ...
Atheist Ireland raises religious discrimination in Irish schools with UN and C&AG
Atheist Ireland has asked the United Nations to raise religious discrimination in Irish schools when it next questions Ireland on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. We have also made a complaint to the Irish Comptroller and Auditor General about the misuse of public funds regarding the teaching of religion in ...
NCCA must address impact of school ethos on teaching of sex education
Atheist Ireland has made the following submission to the NCCA about the redevelopment of Junior Cycle Social, Personal, and Health Education (SPHE). We are making this submission in the context of our submission from October 2019 on the Review of Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) which forms part of SPHE. ...
Religious school ethos prevents objective Relationships and Sexuality Education
On Monday Atheist Ireland attended a webinar by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment about developments in Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) at primary level and Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE at second level). The NCCA is currently updating these courses. The Minister for Education Norma Foley and ...
Church and State still ignoring the 1998 Supreme Court judgment on religious ethos in schools
In the recent Burke case, the Court of Appeal stated that: “179. The decision of the Supreme Court in the Campaign to Separate Church and State v. Minister for Education is binding authority..” For years church and state have used the judgement in the Campaign case to force religion on ...
Education Minister cannot rely on NCCA to deliver objective sex education – the law must change
In the Dail yesterday Donnchadh O’Laoghaire from Sinn Fein asked the Minister for Education about sex education in schools. You can view and read the full exchange here. In her response the Minister acknowledged that RSE was an important right for students. She also said that: “The Department of Education ...
Education minister repeats pledge to change law if necessary to ensure inclusive sex education
In the Dail yesterday Donnchadh O’Laoghaire from Sinn Fein asked the Minister for Education about sex education in schools. The Catholic Bishops have introduced a course called Flourish to primary schools. Flourish is Catholic sex education, and the programme is to be taught alongside curriculum Relationship and Sexuality education. Here ...
Write to your child’s school to object to the new Catholic sex education course
The Catholic Bishops have published a new sex education course called Flourish for primary schools. Flourish can be taught alongside curriculum Relationship and sexuality education in schools with a Catholic ethos. The vast majority of schools in Ireland are controlled by the Catholic Church. Your school may decide to ignore ...
Parents in Cork want objective sex education, not the Catholic Flourish course
A group of parents in Cork are organising to challenge the Catholic Bishops sex education course ‘Flourish’ in their children’s Primary schools. The Catholic Bishops plan to teach their new course alongside syllabus Social, Personal and Health education in schools. The parents say: “We're a group of concerned parents in ...