Call to stop prayer recited aloud at Laois council meetings

A Laois councillor wants to remove the spoken prayer at the start of every monthly council meeting.

Like most local authorities in Ireland, the monthly meeting at county hall begins with every councillor and staff standing as a prayer is recited asking God to direct their actions. 

Fine Gael Cllr Aisling Moran has asked that it be made a silent minute of reflection instead, as there “should be a division of church and state”.

“When we are doing the prayer, as it’s 2023, maybe we could do a minute’s silence instead and let people do their own prayer,” she suggested at the January council meeting.

“We could say that after the next election, we can’t start with a Catholic prayer. Not everybody is classed as a Catholic. What if you are Muslim, Hindu or Protestant?

“Let people do it in their head, one minute’s silence,” she suggested. 

The Cathaoirleach Cllr Thomasina Connell said that such a change would need full consultation with all of the 19 councillors.

“It is very important that each member in this chamber be allowed to make their views known. I’m not prepared to make anything binding,” she said.

Cllr Paddy Bracken said “next thing you’ll want to stop the Angelus”.

Unfinished and ghost housing estates taken on by Laois County Council

Cllr John Joe Fennelly said he will not attend meetings without a prayer.

“I’d want the prayer said at the start. There is no way I’ll sit in the chamber and not pray. As far as I’m concerned it should stay,” he said.

Almost 90 homeless Laois families and single people in emergency accommodation

Cllr Paschal McEvoy told Cllr Moran that she didn’t have to join in with the prayer.

The Cathaoirleach said “we are not getting into a debate”, ending the discussion until another day.