PRAYERS should no longer be said when Dáil and Seanad business begins each day, two Labour politicians have said.
In a joint statement, TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Senator Ivana Bacik said the prayers were inappropriate and disrespectful.
"It is not appropriate for a Christian prayer to be used to commence each sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas in a republic," Mr Ó Ríordáin said.
"The political system must take a lead when striving to create a republic where all are equal, and all are seen to be equal.
"The continuing use of the Christian prayer in the formal business of the Oireachtas is disrespectful to those of other religions, and those who do not adhere to any particular religion."
Ms Bacik said the Constitution recognised the separation of Church and State, and the Oireachtas should do likewise.
"This separation should be reflected in the method of commencing business in the Oireachtas," she said.
"Although a prayer has traditionally been said at the commencement of proceedings in the House of Commons and House of Lords in England, no prayer is said at the commencement of proceedings in either the National Assembly for Wales or the Scottish Parliament.
"A ‘time for reflection’ is held in the Scottish Parliament for up to four minutes on the commencement of each week’s proceedings."
In that vein, the two politicians are now proposing that the Dáil and Seanad prayers be replaced by "short periods of silent contemplation" at the beginning of each sitting.
However, since the Dáil rose yesterday for the summer recess, the matter hasn’t a prayer of being considered further in either House until the new political term begins in mid-September.
"It is not appropriate for a Christian prayer to be used to commence each sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas in a republic," Mr Ó Ríordáin said.
"The political system must take a lead when striving to create a republic where all are equal, and all are seen to be equal.
"The continuing use of the Christian prayer in the formal business of the Oireachtas is disrespectful to those of other religions, and those who do not adhere to any particular religion."
Ms Bacik said the Constitution recognised the separation of Church and State, and the Oireachtas should do likewise.
"This separation should be reflected in the method of commencing business in the Oireachtas," she said.
"Although a prayer has traditionally been said at the commencement of proceedings in the House of Commons and House of Lords in England, no prayer is said at the commencement of proceedings in either the National Assembly for Wales or the Scottish Parliament.
"A ‘time for reflection’ is held in the Scottish Parliament for up to four minutes on the commencement of each week’s proceedings."
In that vein, the two politicians are now proposing that the Dáil and Seanad prayers be replaced by "short periods of silent contemplation" at the beginning of each sitting.
However, since the Dáil rose yesterday for the summer recess, the matter hasn’t a prayer of being considered further in either House until the new political term begins in mid-September.