David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I hope not. I thank the Senator. Senator Power gave me a document which I have just read, as I can speed-read, and certain elements interest me. It indicates section 37(1)(a) of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2011 permit positive discrimination in certain circumstances by allowing more favourable treatment of employees or prospective employees, etc. It is arguable that this is not so offensive. Section 37(1)(b) is the really nasty and dangerous provision but even in the earlier part, the concepts of religious education, medical institutions or religious ethos are not defined. How can we operate legally in a position where the criteria upon which a court is expected to judge are not defined? There could be some difficulty in defining "ethos", "religious ethos","religious education" or "medical institutions" but perhaps there could be a list.
I am very worried by the reference to paragraph (b) on page 4 of the Bill, and I hope to amend it by deleting it. It states: "Notwithstanding paragraph (a), where an educational or medical institution of the type mentioned in that paragraph is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants provided out of public funds", before giving a list of how these bodies can be exempted. I am fed up paying my tax euro to be discriminated against. If these bodies want to discriminate, they should hump off on their own and fund themselves. I do not want a red cent of my money being used to discriminate against me or anybody else on the basis of religious beliefs. It happens that I am a regular church-goer and I have a strong belief, for which I am very grateful. Others have very different views on this and the views of agnostics, atheists and everybody else should be protected.
Religious institutions of any kind, including those of my own church, should not be exempted because of some vague, fuzzy notion of ethos. As I have stated for the past 30 years, if people want to know about ethos, they should not look at some holy Willy prayer book or wishy-washy religious tract from any of the religions. The Bible stated "By their deeds shall ye know them." I am not specifically targeting the Roman Catholic Church but considering the record of this country, all the churches - perhaps with the exception of Quakers - have had their ethos categorised by subterfuge, cover-up and massive dishonesty on the subject of human sexuality. That is what ethos is about in the real world; it is about not telling the truth and frightening people. I hope Members will excuse a slight vulgarity - I will tone it down slightly - but they knew damn well from the Middle Ages that if one has people by the goolies, one really has their attention and can do whatever is required.
Like other colleagues, I have put down some amendments for Report Stage. They may be supplemental to those tabled by my colleagues, Senators Zappone and Power. For example, I want to replace the phrase "religious" with "religious or belief-based" as I see atheism as a belief. It is quite a strong belief in defiance of much of the evidence out there. I can argue that philosophically some other day.