No consensus among teachers on religion in classrooms
Sir, – The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) takes great pride in our long-standing commitment to equality and inclusion in our schools. We are also proud of our commitment to respectful debate and democratic structures. We note Paddy Monahan's comments ('T
eachers are clear they want religion out of the classroom
', Opinion, Thursday, May 9th), and wish to offer some important context and clarification.
At our 157th annual congress, 850 democratically elected delegates from INTO branches across the island of Ireland adopted the 13 recommendations of our Taskforce on the Future of Primary School Patronage. These recommendations represent the official position of the union.
It is, however, noteworthy that a motion calling for the removal of single-faith education from the school day in State-funded schools, debated at congress and addressed by members of Education Equality, was defeated by a significant margin.
INTO has undertaken extensive research and engagement on religious education and school patronage with members in recent years. These exercises have consistently shown that views are varied and deeply held. Our membership is divided on some aspects of this complex issue. Recognising this, we have worked to find a common ground, one that acknowledges those divisions and reflects the union's democratic structures.
READ MORE
It is inevitable that some on both sides of such a sensitive debate will be dissatisfied, but what we now have is a union policy position that portrays the opinions of the majority of our congress delegates, who are chosen to represent our 55,000 members.
We will continue to work with our members, who are doing tremendous work in a sensitive area and doing their best for the children they teach. – Yours, etc,
JOHN BOYLE,
General Secretary,
Irish National Teachers' Organisation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
13 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Israel vows to prevent aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and Liam Cunningham reaching Gaza
latest | Associated Press ©Press Association Today at 10:37 Israel's defence minister has vowed to prevent an aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg, Irish actor, Liam Cunningham, and other activists from reaching the Gaza Strip. Israel Katz said on Sunday that Israel will not allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which he said is aimed at preventing Hamas from importing arms. Register for free to read this story Register and create a profile to get access to our free stories. You'll also unlock more free stories each week.
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Drivers put a brake on Tesla sales,
Irish drivers have put a brake on buying Tesla electric cars, says The Sunday Times. The company run by billionaire Elon Musk, whose split with US president, Donald Trump, dominated headlines this week, has suffered a 13 per cent drop in Irish sales so far this year. Chinese rival BYD has overtaken Tesla, increasing its sales by 48 per cent, the newspaper reports. 'In Ireland Tesla's year got off to a good start with sale of his cars doubling year on year in early 2025, driven by the arrival of the cheaper Tesla Model 3,' it says. 'But sales plunged by 62 per cent last month.' READ MORE Housing policy chasing developers away Government policy is driving investment in housing to other countries, according to the Sunday Independent. Developers including Claire Solon, managing director of the Irish arm of international player, Greystar, tells the newspaper that the Government needs to tackle 'planning, infrastructure, rent caps and viability'. The company warns that 'problematic policy changes' are pushing housing investment to other countries. Michael O'Flynn, chief executive of O'Flynn Group, says additional taxes on the building industry in the middle of a housing crisis are 'actually holding back the delivery of new homes'. He maintains that the residential zoned land tax has become a development tax. Hotelier's Heathrow runway pitch Billionaire hotelier, Surinder Arora is joining forces with US engineering giant Bechtel, to pitch an alternative third runway plan for London's Heathrow airport , reports The Sunday Telegraph. Mike Kane, Britain's aviation minister, says the country's government is open to alternative bids for the hub's third runway. Mr Arora told the newspaper that his bid could no doubt 'build it cheaper than Heathrow airport Ltd'. The hotels mogul previously led an alternative bid in 2018, saying he could do it one third cheaper than the airport company. Renewables' biogas call Renewables developer Bia Energy says data centres and large energy users should be obliged to use biogas to aid kick-starting the industry here, the Business Post writes. The firm, backed by businessman Eamon Waters, who sold Panda Recycling to Macquarie Infrastructure Fund for €1.2 billion, warns that the Government will not meet its climate plan biogas targets. Bia Energy is calling for a 'renewable heat obligation policy' which legally binds large energy users, such as data centres and pharmaceutical manufacturers, to buy renewable energy. The Republic faces penalties of up to €28 billion by 2030 if it fails to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 51 per cent.
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Rent controls to be eased for new builds in planned ‘pressure zones' reform
Restrictions on rent increases are to be eased for newly-built homes but the current caps would remain in place for existing tenancies under plans to be considered by the Government this week. Decisions on the major overhaul of the Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) system are expected to be made by the Coalition over the next 48 hours. Any easing of the RPZ system is likely to be politically contentious and will be closely scrutinised by Opposition parties. The reforms are being considered following a review of RPZs which was introduced in 2016 to cap rent increases in areas where there is a high demand for housing and rental homes. READ MORE Under the current system, rent increases in locations designated as RPZs cannot be greater than the rate of inflation or 2 per cent – whichever is lower. There has been some concern that the RPZ system has negatively impacted on the level of private investment in new housing developments. Under the proposals being considered by Government, the current RPZ annual caps would not apply to new buildings constructed after a certain date – a measure aimed at increasing private sector investment to deliver more housing. The Irish Times understands that rents in the new-builds would instead be tied to inflation. The current rent increase cap of 2 per cent annually would remain in place for existing tenancies, though landlords would be able to change the rents between tenancies, something they currently are not allowed to do. The changes to the RPZ system would be accompanied by enhanced protection for renters in relation to security of tenure amounting to a minimum of six years. There would be a restriction on no-fault evictions during this six year period – a measure that will require legislation. The landlord would be allowed to reset the rent every six years to the market rate. The Coalition leaders and senior Government ministers are expected to discuss the plans during a meeting on Monday evening. Ultimately the proposals would then go to Cabinet on Tuesday morning for a final decision. A Housing Commission report, published last July was critical of RPZs and proposed changing them to a 'reference rent' system that pegs rent increases to nearly homes of a similar quality.
