‘Baptism Barrier’ Bill launched as Irish politicians call for separation of Church and State

By Erica Doyle Higgins

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.

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