Two TDs and a senator have initiated a challenge in the European Court of Human Rights to the requirement that the president and members of the judiciary swear an oath to God upon taking office. Other countries have similar oaths, including the US.

David Norris, an independent senator, has joined Róisín Shortall, co-leader of the Social Democrats, and John Brady, a Sinn Fein TD for Wicklow, in taking the case to the Strasbourg court.

The two other plaintiffs are David McConnell, chancellor of Trinity College Dublin and honorary president of the Humanist Association of Ireland, and Fergus Finlay, a former government adviser.

They say the declarations, which are mandatory for presidents, judges and members of the council of state, are discriminatory.

“As senior politicians and prominent members of Irish civil society, [the presidency and the council] are positions the applicants can legitimately and do aspire to being elected/appointed,” the submission states. “These requirements could prevent them from taking up office or force them to publicly declare allegiance against their conscience.”