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A CORK CITY councillor will tonight table a motion calling for an end to the practice of saying a prayer at the beginning of council meetings.
The motion, which also calls for the removal of a crucifix from the Council chamber, will be brought forward by Pádraig Rice, a Social Democrats councillor in the Cork City South Central constituency.
Speaking to The Journal ahead of tonight’s meeting, Rice said that while there is a “time and a place for religious worship, I don’t think it is at Cork City Council meetings”.
“This is a democracy, not a theocracy,” he added, and noted that voters who elected councillors “come from all faiths and none”.
He said it is “deeply inappropriate to open our meetings with a prayer” and that the practice should be stopped.
I have a motion at tonight’s Cork City Council meeting that calls for a separation of Church and State, including ending the practice of opening Council meetings with a prayer.
— Pádraig Rice (@PadraigRice) July 8, 2024
There is a time and place for religious worship, but I don’t think it is at Cork City Council…
And while Rice added that “symbols are important”, he said the crucifix in the Council chamber should be removed as “having symbols of one faith and none from all the others sends out a signal”.
“Our City should be about inclusion and not exclusion,” said Rice, “we need to create a modern, pluralist republic of equals with a clear separation of church and state.”
“With the prayer and the crucifix, it still feels like 1930s Ireland in there,” added Rice of the Council Chamber.
Rice also said that feels a “sense of duty to pursue a modernisation agenda” and that this is “just one part of that”.
The motion also calls for Cork City Council to extend an invitation to the leaders of all faiths in Cork City whenever religious leaders are invited to Council meetings.
Rice told The Journal that he is uncertain how much support his motion will receive.
However, Ken O’Flynn, a councillor in the Cork City North-East constituency, said that he will “stand firm against these misguided attempts to erase our traditions”.
O’Flynn added that Rice’s motion “demonstrates a concerning disregard for the cultural and historical significance of Christianity in our society”.
O’Flynn, who recently joined Independent Ireland, said the motion was “divisive but also a disservice to the majority of our citizens who hold these values dear”.
He added that the “argument of the separation of Church and State has long been settled”.
“It is clear that the Church does not interfere with the day-to-day operations of Cork City Council, I don’t see the Papal Nuncio sitting in the Chief Executive’s office of City Hall, nor are our motions going for approval or ratification by the Roman Holy See.”
O’Flynn labelled it a “sensationalist proposal” that “serves no practical purpose and only distracts from the real issues affecting our city day-to-day”.
O’Flynn “urged” Rice to “focus on meaningful initiatives that address the needs of our citizens” and added that “respect for diversity should not come at the expense of erasing our cultural heritage and values”.
“We should be working together to address the pressing issues that truly impact the lives of our citizens and move forward in a spirit of unity and respect for our shared history,” said O’Flynn.
However, Rice told The Journal there are “multiple issues to work on simultaneously” and pointed to housing as a “huge priority”.
Rice noted that he has two questions down on housing for tonight’s meeting and added that he spoke last week on issues with public transport in the city and has lodged representations with the Council on housing, parks, playgrounds and footpaths.
“However, as a new councillor, the prayer and the iconography in the council chamber really struck me in the first meetings as being entirely inappropriate for a civic body,” said Rice.
“For that reason, I decided to put this motion down.”
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Another brilliant idea that I didn’t think of
**shakes head**
How can it send an SMS text or relay your position if you are outside phone range at sea?
It doesnt relay position. it advises overdue. Position is available as last know position visible to the network which is pretty accurate if coastal
If you wish to minimise the “Search” in Search and Rescue, then dont play with apps, just use approved Marine Radio Safety equipment – the IMO say so and they are the International Authority on such matters:
http://www.imo.org/blast/mainframe.asp?topic_id=69&doc_id=581#mobiles
Mobile phones should not be promoted for use in maritime emergencies. VHF, EPIRBS, SART’s are the approved method of relaying your distress. This app may cause more harm than good with users relying solely on this disregarding the fact that mobile coverage is needed. The tit Bon homme tragedy shows just how deadly disregarding the correct methods on favor of a mobile phone can be. This goes against all training in good seamanship.
All proven points bit I think this app is geared towards more inland and coastal water users such as canoes, small day boays, leisure boat users, who may not have a vhf on board or higher, so the coverage may not be an issue and having used it you pre program your course and your due arrival time and if you go over the allotted time then the main system alerts a number you give to raise the alarm, they then ring the coast guard and with a little help from some tracking the coast guard would have a fair idea where you might be….anything which can help narrow a search area can cut down a response time….it’s a handy free app for those who want a bit of safety but can’t afford, in these times we live in to have a full marine communications centre on their boat
I agree it’s a handy aid but this sort of promotion is not relaying any of the dangers related with its use to inexperienced mariners. It would be more prudent to encourage people to carry a relatively cheap handheld VHF. There are always issues when it comes to the use of mobiles for such things. Batteries don’t last long on smartphones, contact numbers input don’t receive the text for whatever reason etc. No coverage, coverage but no Internet. At least with the use of VHF the mayday is immediate and all vessels in the area can respond immediately. Mobile phone usage is NOT encourage within the maritime community.
All I’m saying is yes it’s a useful aid but much more reliable resources should be focused on, and the dangers of mobile phone usage really need to be highlighted. I just feel it could actually increase the response time to an emergency.
Michelle – you Dad in his posts misses the point that the phone doesnt send the sms messages – its the server. So you could even leave you phone on the quay side and the texts would still be sent out at the right time to the right people and all you trip data incl whos onboard, where going, lifejackets carried, etc etc will be available to the rescue services including all your historic voyage patterns. Indeed this app will work best when combined with an EPIRB or PLB. Gary should have accepted an invite to attend the public briefing I would have thought?
Chris, firstly these are my own opinions. I’m not sure if you are aware, but I am a seafarer, qualified to chief mate with a BSc(hons) in Nautical Science, so when it comes to safety of life at sea I’m more than qualified to form my own opinions on such matters. You seem to be missing my point also, I am saying its a useful aid, but the approved and tested means are what the coastguard should be promoting for water related activities. You will find that most maritime organisations will not promote the use of mobile phones in maritime safety.
Agreed. But thats not what it does. look at what it does – dont assume its a comms device. its not
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