The Orange Order is seeking a meeting with the taoiseach to press him on tackling what it says is bias against Protestants in the Republic of Ireland.

The announcement appears in the latest edition of the Orange Standard, the order's official newsletter.

It comes after the Irish presidential campaign, which the order says was marred by sectarianism against Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys.

Mrs Humphreys is a Protestant from Monaghan, whose grandfather signed the Ulster Covenent and whose father was in the Orange Order (as reportedly was her husband at one time, albeit over 50 years ago).

placeholder image — Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys had said she and her family were the victims of 'awful' sectarian abuse (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

After the presidential campaign, which saw her lose to Sinn Fein-backed left-wing candidate Catherine Connolly, Mrs Humphreys said she had faced "absolutely awful sectarian abuse", according to the Irish Times.

It quoted her as saying: "I was disappointed, because as a country I thought we had moved on from that."

Now, in an article headlined "Institution to seek meeting with Taoiseach", the Orange Standard has said: "What emerged during the presidential election was a campaign of outright bigotry towards the Orange Institution and at times, a naked sectarianism towards Protestants in general.

"Attitudes which existed just below the surface and contributed to ongoing low-level discrimination, became publicly exposed in the commentary and actions during the election.

"Social media, press commentary and posters reflected that this intolerance is inbuilt with many but, in fairness, not all citizens of the Irish Republic.

"The Orange Institution has raised the issue of discrimination with the Irish government before, and has questioned the clear disparity in their treatment of some minority groups, compared to that afforded to Irish citizens who are culturally British.

"Disappointingly, there was little by way of robust response from the main parties against the sectarianism on display during the election campaign.

"The Orange Institution will now request a further meeting with the Taoiseach to ascertain how his government intends to robustly address the clear bias which exists against Protestants in general, and Orange members in particular."

A follow-on article, titled “Historical bias against southern Protestants”, spoke of “a deep-seated attitude of opposition to anything that does not fit the late-nineteenth century construct of what being Irish is all about – nationalist, Catholic and Gaelic”.

It added: “One could be forgiven for thinking that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

"Coupled with the attacks on Heather Humphreys during the recent election campaign, it should cause many in this country to sit back and think – what do some people mean by the term ‘New Ireland’?”

The order has met with taoiseachs before; Leo Varadkar met with senior members on a visit to the headquarters of the order in 2018, and in 2022 Micheal Martin met with its leadership in Dublin to discuss their concerns around the Protocol.

The taoiseach’s office, currently occupied by Micheal Martin of Fianna Fail, has been contacted for comment.