Labour’s Aodhan Ó Ríordáin has been strongly criticised for using the phrase “get them out” while urging the Labour Party’s 2021 Conference to end religious patronage in schools.
The Dublin Bay North TD told Labour delegates that religious patronage in schools needed to be ended, adding: “If that requires a referendum, we should do it and we should win it.” RTE’s Paul Cunningham reported tht “to loud applause from the floor, he said: ‘Let’s get them out.”
Let’s get them out. #LP21 https://t.co/U7ctDfQ5xU
— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (@AodhanORiordain) November 13, 2021
“I never thought I’d live to see ‘get Catholics out’ become a political slogan in the Republic,” wrote Michael Kelly, the editor of the Irish Catholic.
I never thought I’d live to see ‘get Catholics out’ become a political slogan in the Republic. https://t.co/EUOlldoLtX
— Michael Kelly ن (@MichaelPTKelly) November 13, 2021
One woman said that his is remarks felt like “hate speech”. “I am a Catholic. I am the “them”. He should not be allowed to generate religious hatred like this. Shame on him,” she wrote.
. @AodhanORiordain "Get them out" he shouts. This is Hate Speech. I am a Catholic. I am the "them". He should not be allowed to generate religious hatred like this. Shame on him.
— Caroline McC ن (@c_camley) November 13, 2021
Many pointed out that three were plenty of parents who wanted Catholic schools for their children
“It seems like you’re proposing something new, that we’ve never tried before. But for every new school there’s long drawn out discussions and votes for the patronage. And sometimes, parents CHOOSE Catholic patronage. Would you like to hunt them down and out?” said one.
@aoibhinn_ni_s it seems like your proposing something new, that we've never tried before. But for every new school there's long drawn out discussions and votes for the patronage. And sometimes, parents CHOOSE Catholic patronage. Would you like to hunt them down and out??
— Christine Dupont (D'Arcy) (@darcy_sargument) November 14, 2021
“I think you’ll find most people are quite happy with schools under Catholic patronage,” said one response.
I think you’ll find most people are quite happy with schools under Catholic patronage.
— Paul Hughes (@paolohughes) November 13, 2021
Speaking to the broader issue, journalist Luke Peter Silke said: “Suggesting we should get rid of certain educators and teachers on the basis of their faith is an infringement of the right to freedom of religion. Suggesting we should confiscate all the land and property owned by the church and “get them out” is absolute sectarianism.
“The people will get you out of office first,” one response said. Ó Riordáin retook his seat in Election 2020 after losing it in the previous election.
https://twitter.com/KieranDonegan1/status/1459832073905180672
Others poked fun at the notion of the Labour Party assuming strident positions evoking comparisons to the excesses of Soviet Russia.
“If you’re leading the Red Terror the Clergy and the faithful have absolutely nothing to worry about,” laughed one commentator.
https://twitter.com/EgoEire/status/1459548709092483072
Ó Ríordáín did have some supporters: “The issue is that too many children are denied their religious freedom by having to be educated in schools with a Catholic ethos,” wrote one.
But others were put off and said his speech reminded them why they didn’t vote for Labour.
After an excellent speech by @alankellylabour where I was genuinely drawn towards Labour, I’m grateful to aodhan for reminding me why I don’t vote for them.
— Eoghan O Callaghan (@eoghan_o) November 14, 2021
Felt the same, conference speakers were very impressive and excellent, real movement toward equality, unfortunately Aodhan's speech spoiled it. Ireland has religious pluralism but not enough school spaces, religion isn't really the problem here.
— Sinéad Jones (@88NeonHolograms) November 14, 2021