Minister Bruton’s new proposal on schools admissions is an unjust fine-tuning of an already unjust religious discrimination.
He is proposing to stop Catholic schools refusing to admit children on the basis of religion, but minority faith primary schools will be allowed to continue doing this.
But there is a basic principle at stake here, which is that no State-funded school should be allowed to discriminate against any children on the ground of religion.
The final wording might even make the situation worse, particularly if it includes proposed requirements for parents to commit to upholding the religious ethos of the school.
For the first time ever, Irish Atheists, Evangelicals and Ahmadiyya Muslims are jointly challenging human rights abuses in Pakistan at the United Nations.
Yesterday we made a written submission to the UN, which is now on the UN website, and in July we will be addressing the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva.
The UN Human Rights Committee will be questioning Pakistan about its human rights record under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Atheist Ireland, the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland, and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Ireland will be raising human rights abuses against our communities and other minorities in Pakistan.
The attack on our friends in the Ahmadi Muslim mosque in Galway yesterday evening was both immoral and senseless.
It was immoral because it was an attack on innocent people, and on the principle of freedom of religion and belief. And it was senseless because the Ahmadi Muslim community are at the forefront of promoting peace and tolerance.
Professor Brian Cox and Robin Ince gave an entertaining, educational and inspirational performance about the origins of the universe and life, at the 3 Arena in Dublin tonight. If you get a chance to see them live, don’t miss it!
Tomorrow, Thursday 18 May, the Dail will vote on the Equal Participation in Schools Bill that it debated yesterday. Please contact your TDs today and ask them to vote for this. It is proposed by Solidarity and People Before Profit, and it incorporates proposals from Atheist Ireland and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. […]
The Irish Times has today published this letter from Richard Dawkins: Sir, – As a gesture of solidarity with Stephen Fry, I quote a sentence from my book, The God Delusion: “The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving […]
The Gardai are reported to have decided to not proceed with the Stephen Fry blasphemy investigation. The reported reason for this decision is even more dangerous than a prosecution would have been. The Gardai have not denied that the comments were grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matter held sacred by a religion. Instead, […]
The police investigation into Stephen Fry for blasphemy also threatens RTE, the Irish Times and Atheist Ireland. The offence of blasphemy is committed not only by the person who first utters a blasphemous statement, but also by anybody who publishes it.
Minister Bruton’s new proposal on schools admissions is an unjust fine-tuning of an already unjust religious discrimination. 
