A BILL to abolish the Baptism requirement to enlist children in Irish schools has been launched in Ireland.
The Irish Solidarity Party launched the bill this morning in Dublin to end religious discrimination in admission to primary and post-primary schools.
The change to current legislature will also provide for full participation of pupils of all faiths and none in primary and post-primary educational establishments.
The bill, which is scheduled to be debated tomorrow in Dáil Éireann and voted on this Thursday, would see the abolition of the 'Baptism Barrier' which requires children to have received the Christian sacrament prior to enrolling as a pupil as, the party says, 'education should be open to all, regardless of religion.'
The Solidarity Party's 'Equal Participation in Schools Bill' would also make religious education an issue for after core school hours.
Currently in Ireland it's 'practically impossible' to opt out of religious education, the party says, and instead should be an 'opt-in' system.
Irish politicians are lobbying for the 'Baptism Barrier' to be thrown out of Irish schools, which prevents certain pupils from enrolling on religious grounds. (Picture: iStock)Speaking before the launch today, Ruth Coppinger TD said: "Parents are finding it impossible to access schools if their child hasn't been baptised.
"Equally important is the right to equal treatment and respect within the school day, if you're not of the majority religion.
"All children should be treated equally and this is part of the process now of separating Church and State.
"Taxpayers fund these schools and there shouldn't be a right to discriminate on the grounds of religion," she said.
Under the new Bill, part of the Equal Status Act 2000 which references "... the objective of the school [...] to admit persons of particular religious denomination" and refuse others to retain the "ethos" of the school, would be deleted.
The Bill would also see the amendment of the Education Act 1998, deleting references to 'characteristic spirit' and 'spirituality' of schools.
Instead, religious instruction and faith formation classes shall be added to the education legislation, as well as recognition students who do not wish to take religious education, "having regard to the constitutional and human rights of all persons concerned."
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