Members of the pagan community in Ireland have criticised their exclusion from the first structured talks between the State and the various faith groups to discuss areas of common concern.
A Government spokesman said yesterday that there are "no plans at the moment" to include pagans or druids in the talks which are to be formally launched in mid-February.
According to the Government the dialogue will reflect the increasingly diverse range of faith communities in Ireland. The launch next month follows meetings between civil servants and representatives of religious communities on the timetable and agenda.
As well as the main churches, the talks will include the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran and Moravian churches. They will also include the Religious Society of Friends, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Salvation Army, the Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox and Romanian Orthodox churches, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Republic of Ireland, the Irish Council of Churches, and the Humanist Association of Ireland.
However, last night Con Connor, who describes himself as a pagan and a Celtic druid, said he has written to the Government and asked to be included in the dialogue process. "This is not inclusive. This is not progress. Maybe it is time for the Government to realise that we are out there." Mr Connor, who runs a druid school providing lectures and courses, said there is much misinformation about the pagan community and in particular about Celtic druidism in Ireland today.