New ICCL research report details infringements of civil society’s rights of public participation, freedom of association and freedom of expression
Open letter to An Taoiseach calling for Electoral Act reform
20 December 2018 An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar Dept of An Taoiseach Government Buildings Merrion St Upper Dublin 2 20 December 2018 Taoiseach, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are essential for our democracy to function. However in Ireland we are facing increasing …
Protecting civil society while regulating political advertising
Our democracy depends on voters being able to present and receive correct information about politics. The State should protect that. The State should also protect people when they work together for the common good. Government should facilitate the participation of …
Sign up to the People’s Voice campaign for Electoral Act reform
The Coalition for Civil Society Freedom has been actively and loudly campaigning for Electoral Act reform. We will be bringing the People’s Voice campaign to government next. There is an open letter to the Taoiseach which you, as an individual …
Coalition for Civil Society Freedom event
Keeping The People’s Voice in Power An event supporting the campaign for Electoral Act reform WHAT: The Coalition for Civil Society Freedom invites all to attend a public meeting on Thursday, 11 October from 2pm – 5pm at Woodquay Venue, Dublin. The …
Ivan Cooper: the Electoral Act is “muzzling” civil society
Ivan Cooper is Director of Public Policy with the Wheel. He gave this address calling for reform of the Electoral Act on 6 July 2018. As anyone paying attention to current affairs will be aware, there are very good reasons why …
ICCL demands answers from Gardaí over disproportionate and unaccountable tactics used at North Frederick Street eviction
Dublin, 12 September 2018 The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) is today demanding answers from An Garda Síochána over the tactics used during an eviction of housing rights activists from a building at North Frederick Street in Dublin’s North …
Outcome of Amnesty case highlights flaws in Electoral Act
This op-ed by Liam Herrick appeared in the Irish Times on 31 July 2018 For community and voluntary organisations across Ireland, yesterday’s settlement of the court proceedings between Amnesty International Ireland and the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPOC) brought …
Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy on the importance of charities’ ability to advocate for change
Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy is the founder of Focus Ireland. She spoke at a press conference organised by ICCL on 6 July 2018. This is a very important debate in Ireland today. I want to speak about the area known …
ICCL welcomes Amnesty result; calls on Government to amend unclear law
Dublin, 31 July 2018 The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) today welcomes the outcome of the legal challenge taken by Amnesty International Ireland against the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPOC). SIPOC has agreed to fully retract its demand …
April Duff of Education Equality on Sipo threatening them with prosecution and no longer accepting donations over €100
April Duff (centre) pictured at the ICCL/The Wheel/Front Line Defenders/Transparency International press conference on 6 July 2018 where she spoke about Education Equality’s interactions with Sipo in 2017. April will speak at the official launch of the campaign for reform of …
Civil society organisations under threat at home whilst Foreign Affairs champions civil society abroad
Dublin, 6 July 2018 The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), along with a coalition of other leading civil society organisations, this morning held a press conference to mark the adoption of a landmark Irish-led resolution on the importance …
NGOs call for greater protection of domestic civil society as Foreign Affairs launches resolution at UN
Dublin, 6 July 2018 Five civil society organisations will today hold a press conference to welcome the approval by the UN Human Rights Council of an Irish-led resolution on civil society space, and to call for the principles to be …
EU Rights Agency Highlights Difficulties Facing Civil Society in Member States, including Ireland
Dublin, 18 January 2018 The EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) today released a report detailing the increasing difficulties for civil society organisations (CSOs) operating within the EU. In a highly critical report, the agency details the hostile environment for …