The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) last week launched its report Religion and Education: A Human Rights Perspective, and submitted it to the Irish government. In the past two years, IHRC has received an increasing number of casework queries, requests for enquiry and applications for legal assistance from minority or no faith parents about their children's education. The Report is a product of a November 2010 conference and subsequent consultation process. Sixty submissions were received from both individuals and organisations.
The Report makes 13 recommendations in total, with an overarching call on the Government to ensure a "diversity of provision of school type...which reflects the diversity of religious and non-religious convictions now represented in the State". It examines the human rights standards on religion and education under both the Irish Constitution and international law. The Report finds that Irish law needs changes to protect parents and children's rights to freedom of religion, belief and conscience, whether they are of the majority Roman Catholic faith, of minority religions or of no faith. The Report also suggests that where enough students seek exemption from religious classes, a parallel class in "ethics and philosophy" could be provided.
Speaking at the launch, President of the IHRC Dr. Maurice Manning referred to the upcoming review in November of Ireland's human rights record under the UN Universal Periodic Review process at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Dr. Manning noted if Ireland wished to avoid criticism of its human rights record, a "voluntary commitment by the Government to implement the recommendations in the report would go a long way in demonstrating that the Government is serious in meeting Ireland's human rights obligations".
To view an article by DCU School of Law and Government Lecturer Eoin Daly on this issue, please click here.