Direct official dialogue is to open up next year between the Government and leaders of dozens of religious communities based in Ireland, the Dail heard today.
Up to 150 nationalities are currently resident here and about 30 groups have their own churches or schools. Exploratory consultations between state officials and the religious groups are concluding and will lead to bilateral meetings with Government ministers and senior officials in 2007.
Channels will remain open on an ongoing basis and an annual meeting of all communities is also envisaged. Intensive discussions up to now focused on agenda issues of future meetings like education, health and EU legislation.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dail: "I'm told by the two officials who worked very hard on this that they believe that they can get it going next year."
Talks involved Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, and Church of Ireland's Archbishop Robin Eames and Archbishop John O'Neill, Groups included the Presbyterian Church, Methodist Church, Baptist Church, Lutheran Church, Bavarian Church, Society of Friends, Jehovah's Witnesses, Salvation Army, Greek Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox Church, Coptic Orthodox Church, Romanian Orthodox Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, Islamic Cultural Centre, National Spiritual Assembly of Baha'i, the Humanist Association and the Irish Council of Churches.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said: "I'm quite sure the churches will find it most informative to meet members of the Cabinet particularly when they claim to follow the Gospel teachings about keeping one's word." Mr Kenny added that it was important that there would no perception that Cabinet ministers were under any influence from any particular group.
Mr Ahern added: "This issue is complex not only in this country but in other countries. We now have 150 nationalities." Up to 30 groups now have churches or schools in Ireland, he added. "I believe that it is important going forward that these groups have a voice at Government, that they can put their case. "They want to engage with the state on a whole range of issues."
Mr Ahern pointed out that Muslims from both Sunni and Shiite communities work harmoniously together unlike other countries and also follow Dail debates. "Only four or five churches would have been affected for 60 or 70 years but now as we are going forward, there are going to be many more," he added.