Ireland's largest ethical minority is now the non-religious community, the Association of Irish Humanists has said.
In a statement the group's co-ordinator, Mr Dick Spicer, said: "It is time that this fact was recognised by the powers that be, as our community still labours under a discriminatory system."
According to census figures from 2002 published last week the biggest increase in any category was in the number of people professing "no religion", which has grown by 72 per cent since 1991. Almost 140,000 people described themselves in this way, up by 66,000.
A further 1,000 people said they were agnostic, 500 described themselves as atheists and about 80,000 did not state their religion.
Mr Spicer noted: "Religious oaths are required for the highest judicial offices in the State and from the president. Our taxes fund religious-run schools which the majority of our children have no option but to attend. They have limited rights of access to those schools and little protection from indoctrination.
"Ceremonial occasions of State should incorporate representatives of our community. The national media, particularly RTÉ funded by the taxpayer, should afford us equal time, at least, to smaller minorities such as the Church of Ireland."