Cork North-West

Mark Collins:

1. Will you work to reform the education system so that all children in your constituency can access publicly-funded schools which have no religious ethos?
Yes
2. Would you support a referendum to remove religious references from the Constitution?
Yes
3. Do you believe that blasphemy should be a criminal offence?
No
4. Would you support legislation to prevent hospitals from having a religious ethos?
No
5. If elected, would you vote to ensure that religious bodies are treated the same as other organisations under equality and employment legislation?
No.
6. Do you believe that religions should have to pay their fair share of tax on income that does not come from charitable activities?
Yes

In addition, see the statement provided by the Green Party on behalf of all its candidates.
Green Party statement

Ann Foley:

We in United Left Alliance firmly believe in the seperation of Church/Religion and State. Schools should not teach religion, unless the are wholly funded by themselves and are not receiving publicly funded money, whether for general up keep of the school, its maintenance or the payment of teachers.
I would personally support such a referendum, as would my party.
Blasphemy should not be a criminal offence. I personally think it is a law that should only be found in history books relating to the 18th century. It is unjust.
With regard to hospitals and religious ethos, yes I would support, as would my party, that hospitals should not have a religious ethos. Religion should not play a part in any state institution, and that includes hospitals. However, patients should have the right to access a member of their religion, if they so wish. This should however be done on a voluntary basis with whatever religion in question. There should not be a priest/curate/etc insitu in hospitals.
For questions 5 and 6. Religious bodies should not be treated any differently. They should abide by our law with regards to employment etc., and should and must pay an equal share of taxes.
I have a personal belief in God. However, I firmly believe that Church and State must be and needs to be seperate entities. My child goes to a state school, yet it has a Catholic ethos. Even as a believer of God, I find this very unsettling. Yet most parents, like myself, do not have a choice, especially in rural areas. This needs to change.

Aine Collins:
Thank you for your email. You are right l am very busy at the moment and if elected would like the opportunity to discuss you questions further with you. In principal l believe in fairness and all children should be entitled to same opportunities and education system.

In addition, see the statement provided by Fine Gael on behalf of its candidates.

Des O’Grady:

See the statement provided by Sinn Fein on behalf of all its candidates.

Martin Coughlan:

See the statement provided by the Labour Party on behalf of all its candidates.

Michael Creed:

See the statement provided by Fine Gael on behalf of all its candidates.

Derry Canty:

See the statement provided by Fine Gael on behalf of all its candidates.

No Response Received From:

Michael Moynihan

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