Press Release from The Iona Institute Sleepwalking to disaster if recommendations on fertility industry are followed July 22, 2019 – A new report from the Joint Oireachtas Health Committee on the Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) industry would further advance the commodification of eggs, sperm, wombs, embryos and even children after they are born if its...
It’s a pity Alfred O’Rahilly is not alive today to debate the topic of science and religion with Professor David McConnell of Trinity College Dublin. O’Rahilly was himself a scientist. He was President of UCC. He spoke and wrote widely on the topic of science and religion. He died in 1969. McConnell had an article...
The impression is often given that there is something very and unusual, not to mention undemocratic, about religious schools receiving public funds. In fact, it is absolutely normal. What is unusual is faith schools receiving no public funds. What is more, the Irish education system is one of the freest in the world, that is,...
Both commercial and so-called ‘altruistic’ surrogacy could amount to the sale of children, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children has warned. Our Government normally likes to listen to the UN. Will it do so on this occasion? The report, presented to the UN Human Rights Council, by Ms...
Press Release from The Iona Institute Government must fund research into causes of marriage breakdown Divorce referendum a chance for Government to show how it will reduce rate of divorce and separation May 21, 2019 – We are to hold a referendum on divorce this Friday. The referendum is not really about reducing the waiting...
We are in the middle of a referendum right now on whether the waiting time required before a couple can divorce should be removed from the Constitution. It therefore seems a good time to look at the general issue of divorce, and in particular on what makes a person file for divorce. You might think...
David Quinn was on Today with Sean O’Rourke (RTE Radio 1) to discuss the possibility of moving some of the preparation for First Holy Communion and Confirmation outside school hours. The item can be heard here.
“The institution of marriage in Ireland is in pretty good health”, the Irish Times told us on Monday in an editorial that warned against complacency about the passage of the divorce referendum on May 24th. As for that, it will pass in a canter, but is marriage in Ireland “in pretty good health”? That is...
We hear a lot in the papers about ‘rogue’ pro-life counselling agencies. But what of rogue fertility clinics? The fertility business is huge and anxious couples pay a very great deal of money in their efforts to become pregnant, efforts that often result in failure. Sally Cheshire, chairman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)...
Ireland needs to have a debate about the use of ‘CRISPR’ technology, a gene-editing technique that can affect the DNA of future generations of human beings. A number of eminent scientists and bioethicists have recently called for a moratorium on techniques to make genetically modified children. They believe that a proper debate is urgent in...
