Dublin, 16 May 2019 Read our full annual report by following this link. Referendum Campaigns ICCL had a busy year in 2018, not least because of our campaigns in two seminal referendums – the referendum to repeal the 8th, and …
Senator Lynn Ruane launches bill for reform of Electoral Act with backing of campaign groups
Dublin, 16 May 2019 Senator Lynn Ruane today launched her bill for reform of the Electoral Act with support from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), Education Equality and Amnesty International. Senator Ruane said: “I’m delighted to introduce this …
Human rights and arts organisations call for repeal of Censorship Act
Dublin, 29 April 2019 On 30 April, as part of Dublin UNESCO’s One City One Book, a coalition of human rights and arts organisations will come together to call for the immediate repeal of the Censorship of Publications Act. One …
ICCL submission to the public consultation on establishing an Electoral Commission
15 March 2019 ICCL has made a submission to the Department of Housing and Local Government’s public consultation on the establishment of an Electoral Commission. ICCL supports the establishment of an Electoral Commission because we believe it can strengthen the …
ICCL publishes latest edition of Rights News!
From victory for free speech in the blasphemy referendum, to the Guard Our Rights campaign for police reform, mass protests and mass surveillance, it’s been another busy semester for ICCL! Read all about it in Rights News for Autumn Winter …
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 …
Electoral Act stifling NGOs says EU Rights Agency
Dublin, 11 October 2018 The Irish Electoral Act has been strongly criticised by a broad coalition of NGOs and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency. The coalition of NGOs has published a policy paper with proposed amendments to the law and …
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 …
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 …
ICCL releases statement on freedom of artistic expression and unveils mural calling for a YES vote
Dublin, 18 May 2018 The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) is today sounding an alarm about the chilling effect it is observing in the wake of the censorship of Maser’s Repeal the 8th mural and Una Mullally’s Question of …
ICCL calls on government to defend freedom of speech and protect referendum posters
Dublin, 27 April 2018 The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has today said that referendum posters are an important expression of political speech which must be protected and that the State has a duty to guarantee the right to …
This is about freedom of speech: ICCL criticises removal of Maser mural
Dublin, 23 April 2018 Read our policy on censorship of art. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has said that today’s removal of the well-known Repeal the 8th mural by street artist Maser raises very serious concerns for freedom of …