When You Gaze at the Universe
When You Gaze at the Universe is a song by Pat McGinley from Derry about the power of science and the failure of religion to explain the awe-inspiring wonders of the universe.
The Catholic Church can not be salvaged – my speech at TCD Historical Society
I spoke last Wednesday at Trinity College Dublin’s Historical Society at a debate on whether the Catholic Church can be salvaged, along with Jerry Buttimer TD, Father Tony Flannery and Sinead O’Connor. Here is my contribution: As always, thank you for inviting me. I can think of no better way to spend Darwin Day than […]
The Iona Institute exists solely to advance and promote the Christian religion, not to provide objective research
The Iona Institute creates the impression, on its website and in its media pronouncements, that it is a quasi-academic and objective think-tank, and that it promotes various causes on the basis that they are good for society. For example, it claims to oppose same-sex marriage not on the basis of religious teachings, but on the […]
A tribute to the late John Buckley, artist and poet and member of Atheist Ireland
John Buckley, artist and poet and member of Atheist Ireland, died of cancer on 28 January 2014. He was 67. Today his family and friends gathered in Limerick to celebrate his remarkable life. I and Jane Donnelly made the following contributions to this celebration in memory of John. Tribute by Michael Nugent to John Buckley […]
The Louise O’Keeffe judgment could begin the end of state-supported religious discrimination in Irish schools
This week’s European Court judgment in the Louise O’Keeffe case changes everything in the campaign for secular education in Ireland. The State was arguing that it was not responsible for protecting Louise O’Keeffe’s human rights while she was in school, because the State did not run the school directly. The European Court has now told […]
Protect our basic human rights by separating Church and State
Atheist Ireland has made a final submission to the Irish Constitutional Convention, asking its members to recommend a secular Constitution that respects equally the human rights of all citizens, regardless of our religious or nonreligious beliefs. The Convention members are meeting this weekend in Dublin to discuss Dail reform, and they will also consider what […]
Flawed blasphemy report would maintain religious privilege
The Irish Constitutional Convention has reported to the Government on the issue of blasphemy, which the Convention discussed last November. The report recommends that the offence of blasphemy is removed and replaced with a new general provision to include a prohibition on incitement to religious hatred. The report also recommends creating a new set of […]
Jane Donnelly telling Dail Committee that Irish schools breach human rights law
This is video of Jane Donnelly of Atheist Ireland addressing the Oireachtas Committee on Education on 11 December about discrimination against secular parents and their children in Irish schools. Opening Statement – Irish schools breach human rights
Jane Donnelly tells Dail Committee that Irish schools breach human rights law
Jane Donnelly, Atheist Ireland’s Human Rights Officer, made the following presentation today to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection. The Committee was discussing the Draft General Scheme of an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2013. As legislators, what would you do if I was sick, and my local State-funded hospital told me […]
Constitutional Convention insults secular citizens with 2% vote to discuss Church and State
The Irish Constitutional Convention has responded insultingly to the many citizens who asked it to discuss Separation of Church and State. Only 2% of Convention members have voted to discuss the topic, despite it receiving more support than any other topic in the Convention’s public feedback process, and it will therefore not be on the […]