Taoiseach Atheist Ireland meeting – press conference briefing

On 10th February 2015 Atheist Ireland meet the Taoiseach and the Minister for Education, as part of the dialogue process between Government and religious and nonreligious philosophical bodies.

This is the first time ever that an atheist advocacy group meet the Taoiseach. It marks the next phase of Atheist Ireland’s ongoing campaign for an ethical, secular State that respects equally everybody’s rights.

These are the notes for the press conference briefing sessions

Agenda for Taoiseach Atheist Ireland Meeting

Education Issues for Taoiseach Atheist Ireland – Why must our children leave their human rights
at the school gates?

Human Rights Issues for Taoiseach Atheist Ireland – The State has a positive obligation to respect the rights of atheists 

We are bringing an atheist teacher, an atheist parent and an atheist student to tell the Taoiseach and Education Minister at first hand their experience of religious discrimination in Irish schools.

From 12 and 3 pm on Tuesday, we are holding a briefing session for TDs and Senators in the Boardroom in Buswells Hotel, about the issues we will be raising with the Taoiseach, including:

  • How Ireland breaches the human rights of the 340,000 people who did not identify with any religion in the last census, as well as members of minority faiths.
  • How the Irish Constitution, education system and laws and practices systemically discriminate against atheists in favour of religions, spiritualists and humanists.
  • The specific changes needed to respect equally the right of all citizens to freedom of conscience, religion or belief; equality before the law and freedom from discrimination.
  • The relevant constitutional articles, international human rights treaties, and judgments of the European Court of Human Rights that show what the state has to do to fulfill our obligations under human rights law.

For the press conference briefing sessions with TDs and Senators in Buswells, we are giving short formal presentations on the hour at 12, 1, 2 and 3, and we will be there to answer questions for the rest of the time.

Andrew D