Today (8 October 2013) the Irish Council for Civil Liberties joined seven other civil society organisations to write to the Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett T.D., requesting clarification regarding recent reports that the Dáil Committee on Procedure and Privileges, which he chairs, has considered proposals that could restrict access by civil society groups to the Oireachtas audio-visual (AV) room.
The letter, which is available in its electronic format HERE, and is reproduced below, was signed by representatives of the Free Legal Advice Centres, OPEN, the National Women’s Council of Ireland, Amnesty International Ireland, the ICCL, the Equality and Rights Alliance, the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network and the Children’s Rights Alliance.
Seán Barrett T.D.
Ceann Comhairle
Dáil Éireann
Kildare Street
Dublin 2
8 October 2013
Dear Ceann Comhairle,
Reports have reached our organisations that the Dáil Committee on Procedure and Privileges, which you chair, has considered proposals that could restrict access by civil society groups to the Oireachtas audio-visual (AV) room. We would welcome your comments on these reports.
Over the years, a great many civil society, community and voluntary groups, including our organisations, have made good use of the AV room to brief TDs and Senators on matters of mutual interest. Moreover, the physical location of the room within the precincts of Leinster House permits your parliamentary colleagues to attend civil society briefings without neglecting their voting obligations.
The protection of civil society space is an internationally-recognised need. Indeed, only ten days ago, Ireland’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva championed a new UN Human Rights Council Resolution on this subject that recognises “the crucial importance of the active involvement of civil society, at all levels, in processes of governance and in promoting good governance” (UN General Assembly document A/HRC/24/L.24, enclosed).
The on-site briefing facility of the AV room at Leinster House is, both literally and figuratively, a civil society space that should be preserved and protected.
We hope that you can reassure us that, notwithstanding any discussions that may have taken place at the Dáil Committee on Procedure and Privileges, you will not stand over any attempt to constrict the legitimate access of civil society groups to this important facility.
Yours sincerely,
Noeline Blackwell
Director General, FLAC
13 Lower Dorset Street, Dublin 1
Frances Byrne
CEO, OPEN
7 Red Cow Lane, Smithfield, Dublin 7
Orla O’Connor
Director, National Women’s Council of Ireland
4th Floor, 2/3 Parnell Square East, Dublin 1
Colm O’Gorman
Director, Amnesty International Ireland
Sean McBride House, Fleet St, Dublin 2
Mark Kelly
Director, Irish Council for Civil Liberties
9-13 Blackhall Place, Dublin 7
Rachel Mullen
Coordinator, Equality and Rights Alliance
C/O OPEN, 7 Red Cow Lane, Dublin 7
Brian Sheehan
Director, Gay and Lesbian Equality Network
2 Exchange Street Upper, Dublin 8
Tanya Ward
Chief Executive, Children’s Rights Alliance
31 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2