Atheist Ireland Forum

Very interesting ruling regarding the saying of prayers in an English town council, the court ruled citing the European Convention on Human Rights so presumably it could equally be applied here.
My question is would a member of the Dáil orCounty Council need to bring the case, as they are the ones directly affected, or could a citizen or group such as ours do it?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-16980025

Unfortunately, the judge rejected the human rights arguments, and the case was won instead on a point of statutory construction of local government legislation.

Mr Justice Ouseley said: "A local authority has no power under section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972, or otherwise, to hold prayers as part of a formal local authority meeting, or to summon councillors to such a meeting at which prayers are on the agenda."

So the Goverment may well respond by legislating to explicitly allow councils to do this.

But the case does have a very useful impact in terms of consciousness raising.

I am presuming that they say a Christian prayer in the Dail. I was wondering if this constitutes discrimination under Article 44.2.3 :-

“The State shall not impose any disabilities or make any discrimination on the ground of religious profession, belief or status.”

Should the TD’s not be saying a prayer in every religion that is represented in the State?

This could mean that they would be praying all day which I’m sure would suit some of our more religious TD’s who could spend the day on their knees praying that the Government will re-open the Embassy to the Holy See.

Some of them would be more productive that way, mind you...

I think Kenny, Noonan and Gilmore have all reason to pray after their lies and threats to the people, but they have the advantage to go to confession and then they can start again afresh to lie and betray.

Isn't Gilmore an atheist?

I thought so.

Yes, good to have a straight thinker in such a high position!

I'd prefer an honest theist to a dishonest atheist.