Atheist Ireland | One Oath For All Archives

03/08/2021 No Comments Atheist Ireland

Irish Government says religious oaths are “necessary in a democratic society”

It is disgraceful that the Irish Government is arguing at the European Court of Human Rights that the religious oath for President and members of the Council of State are “necessary in a democratic society.” The Government is contesting a legal challenge to the religious oath by Roisin Shortall TD, John ...

13/05/2021 No Comments Atheist Ireland

President Higgins says religious oath for President should go

The Irish Constitution requires the President to take a religious oath in order to take office. In a recent interview with BBC Radio Ulster the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins said that, in a new Ireland, "one should just affirm" (that is, make a secular affirmation instead of a ...

10/12/2020 Atheist Ireland

UN to again raise secular education and religious oaths with Ireland

The UN Human Rights Committee has raised the Irish education system and religious oaths in its List of Issues under the UN Convention on Civil and Political Rights. They raised the right to freedom of religion and belief in the Irish Education system. Atheist Ireland had made a Submission to ...

23/07/2020 Atheist Ireland

One oath for all

The removal of religious oaths for people making affidavits is a welcome half step in the direction of removing all religious oaths from State activities in Ireland. The Law Society has correctly noted that these oaths are contrary to the right to privacy. But witnesses and jurors will still have ...

06/10/2019 Atheist Ireland

Atheist Ireland supports Court challenge on religious oaths

Atheist Ireland supports the five Irish citizens who are taking a European Court challenge to the religious oaths that must be sworn by the Irish President, judges and members of the Council of State, which includes the Taoiseach, Tanaiste, Chairs of the Oireachtas, and others. David Norris, Róisín Shortall, John ...

04/04/2019 Atheist Ireland

Conscientious atheists again excluded from new Irish Council of State

President Michael D Higgins has today appointed seven citizens to the Council of State, which advises the President on various issues. Again, these appointments have excluded conscientious atheists as candidates. This is because, in order to take office as members of the Council of State (or President, or a Judge) ...

12/01/2019 Atheist Ireland

Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and others must swear a religious oath to remain in office

One of Atheist Ireland’s main campaigns this year is One Oath For All, a campaign to remove from the Constitution the religious oath that Presidents, Judges, and members of the Council of State must swear. Many people are unaware that this oath encompasses the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, chair of the Dáil and ...