Atheist Ireland Forum

The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and the School of Law, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) are delighted to host a joint conference which examines the human rights implications of religion in education.
The conference will facilitate contributions from leading Irish and International academics, key stakeholders in the education system as well as speakers from the main religions in the State and speakers from a secular perspective. This forum will bring together an array of ideas on how religious and non-religious perspectives can be accommodated in the education system.

Conference Programme
9.00 – 9.15 Joint welcome:
Professor Maureen Junker-Kenny, Professor of Theology from the School of Religion and Theology, Trinity College Dublin Dr Maurice Manning, President of Irish Human Rights Commission
9.15 – 10.45 Session 1: The Role of Religion in Schools
Chair: Lia O’Hegarty, IHRC Commissioner
– Prof. Dr Gerhard Robbers, Institute for Legal Policy, Universitaet Trier, Germany
– Prof. Dr Eugenia Maria Relaño, Professor of Law and Religion, Complutense University (Madrid) and Legal Adviser of the Spanish Ombudsman
10.45 – 10.55 Questions & Answers
10.55 – 11.10 Tea & Coffee
11.10 – 12.50 Session 2: National and International Legal Standards Governing Religious Instruction in Education
Chair: Roger Sweetman, SC, IHRC Commissioner
– Prof. Gerard Whyte, B.L., Trinity College Dublin
– Dr Oran Doyle, Lecturer-in-Law, Trinity College Dublin
– Dr Alison Mawhinney, Lecturer in Law, Queens University Belfast
– Dr Ursula Kilkelly, Senior Lecturer in Law, University College Cork
12.50 – 13.00 Questions & Answers
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch*
14.00 – 14.50 Session 3: Reflections on the Irish Model
Chair: Dympna Glendenning BL
– Seán Ó Foghlú, Asst. Secretary, Department of Education and Skills
– Deirdre O’Connor, Equality Officer, INTO
– Emily Logan, Ombudsman for Children
– Eoin Daly, Lecturer in Law, Dublin City University
14.50 – 15.00 Questions & Answers
15.00 – 16.00 Session 4: Different Perspectives on the Role of Religion in Schools
Chair: Éamonn Mac Aodha, IHRC Chief Executive
– Fr. Michael Drumm, Chairperson, Catholic Schools’ Partnership, Maynooth
– Dr Anne Lodge, Principal, Church of Ireland College of Education
– Imam Hussein Halawa, Chair, Irish Council of Imams
– Deirdre O’Donoghue, Religious Society of Friends
– Paul Rowe, CEO Educate Together
– Ann James, Secretary, Humanist Association of Ireland
16.00 – 16.15 Questions & Answers
16.15 – 16.25 Launch of IHRC’s Discussion Paper
Conference Conclusions
– Prof. William Binchy, Trinity College Dublin, IHRC Commissioner

Places are filling so to register interest in attending we recommend that you please contact Karine Petrasuc at 01 858 9601 or email kpetrasuc@ihrc.ie

Religion & Education: A Human Rights Perspective

The IHRC hosted a conference entitled “Religion and Education: A Human Rights Perspective” on 27 November 2010. On the same date the IHRC launched a discussion document on the topic and called for submissions from the public to assist the IHRC in formulating recommendations on the measures that the Government should take in order that the right to education and to freedom of thought, conscience and religion are respected within the education system. The closing date for receipt of submissions is 31 January 2011. Below is a template to assist individuals or organisations who wish to participate in the consultation. This template is for assistance only and those who wish to make a submission are free to do so in any form they see fit, subject to the requirement that each submission should be in writing and if possible not more than ten pages long.

It is intended that a summary report of the submissions will be published by the IHRC and placed on the IHRC website, with a list identifying all those who made submissions either in an individual capacity or on behalf of an organisation, unless a person requests anonymity. While individual submissions will not be published it should be noted by anyone making a submission that same may be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts 1997-2003, and the Commission may be obliged to release same on request being made in that regard subject to the provisions of the above Acts. All personal information submitted in the context of consultation process is subject to the Data Protection Acts and will be treated accordingly.

1. Personal information

1a. SURNAME:FIRST NAME:
1b. ADDRESS:
1c. ORGANISATION (If any):
1d. CONTACT DETAILSHOME:MOBILE:

RELIGION AND EDUCATION (General)

2a. In your opinion does religion have a role in the education of children?Yes/ No (Please explain your answer)
2b. If you agree that religion does have a role in the education of children, should the denominational character/ ethos of a school be confined to formal religious instruction in the class room or should the denominational character of the school be reflected in all the activities of the school throughout the day? Yes/No ( Please explain your answer)


3. THE PATRONAGE SYSTEM: The State remains formally neutral in matters between different religious denominations. The Education Act 1998 gives legislative status to school “patrons” to whom Boards of Management are accountable for upholding the ethos or “characteristic spirit” of schools. The majority of school patrons in the State are denominational (Roman Catholic). (See Discussion paper at paras 3-10).

3a. Taking into account the fact that the majority of existing schools in the State are denominational in character, in your view, can the school patronage system meet the needs of those who seek denominational, multi denominational or alternatively non denominational education?Yes/No ( Please explain your answer)
3b. If your answer is No, how could the State take measures to ensure the system meets other needs identified?
3c Is the freedom of thought conscience and religion of teachers being upheld within the current patronage system taking into account the obligations of the Boards of Management to uphold the ethos of the school:Yes/ No ( Please explain your answer)
3d. Any other comments you may have in relation to the patronage system:

4. STATE FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS: On a formal basis the State provides funding to all recognised schools on an equitable basis irrespective of whether they are denominational in character or not.

4a. Does the current system of funding schools meet the needs of those who seek denominational, multi denominational, or non denominational education for their children?Yes/ No (Please explain your answer)
4b. In allocating funding for new schools, should the State focus on demographic growth, or to any demand for denominational/ multi denominational or non denominational education? Should any such considerations vary depending on existing schools in the catchment area?Yes/No ( Please explain your answer)


5. THE CURRICULUM ( Please see paras 11- 18 Discussion Paper)

5a. Should the State ensure that information and knowledge in the education curriculum, including religion is conveyed in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner in the classroom?Yes/ No (Please explain your answer)
5b. If religion is taught in an objective, critical and pluralist manner can this vindicate the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion of parents who have a preference for either denominational or non-denominational education for their children?Yes/ No ( Please explain your answer)
5c. Alternatively should the State be bound to respect parents’ religious convictions by providing for education in the denomination/ non denomination of their choice?Yes/No ( Please explain your answer)
5d. If you agree that the State should be bound to respect the religious convictions of parents, what does that duty entail for children of a minority religion or no religion in the existing system which at present has a high number of denominational schools? Please suggest any solutions or models which could be considered.


6. REMEDIES: Section 30 of the Education Act 1998 states that the relevant Minister cannot oblige a student to attend a course of instruction contrary to his convictions or that of his parents. In addition the Minister may agree procedures for dealing with complaints against teachers or staff of a school (see discussion paper paras 19-27).
At present there is a complaints system which focuses on teacher interaction with the child but which may not address wider issues of the place of religion in the school.

6a Does the possibility of opting out of religious instruction in accordance with the Education Act 1998 vindicate the rights of those seeking multi denominational or non denominational education? Yes/ No ( Please explain your answer)
6b Is the existing complaints mechanism sufficient to ensure that the rights of those that seek to opt out of religious instruction and/or education are protected? Please suggest any other procedures which could be considered.Yes/ No ( Please explain your answer)

7. ANY OTHER COMMENTS

ANY OTHER COMMENTS (please use this space to make any other comments in relation to Religion and Education not already covered in your submission)


Please note the deadline for submissions is 31 January 2011. All submissions should be sent by post or by emailing the IHRC on info@ihrc.ie and marking the submission: Religion/ Education Consultation.

Good – Things need to change. This is an opportunity.

As we recieved a large number of requests to extend the deadline for receipt of Submissions we have moved the last date to 11 february 2011.

I got an acknowledement of my submission today.
So there is a couple more days for people to get their submission in.