29 April 2025 — The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has appointed Joe O’Brien as its new Executive Director. Joe brings a wealth of political and community sector experience to the role, including over 20 years working in policy, advocacy, front line and outreach roles in the community and voluntary sector and almost five years as a minister of state in government.
Joe worked for over two decades with community sector organisations including Crosscare and the Immigrant Council of Ireland. In this time, he worked with some of Ireland’s most at-risk communities – including migrants, people experiencing homelessness and young people at risk – in a range of policy, advocacy and outreach roles.
Joe has authored reports on the immigration system and minority access to the social welfare system and homelessness supports. He led several projects aimed at increasing migrants’ political participation in Ireland and sat on the Monitoring and Co-ordinating Committee of the National Migrant Integration Strategy. Joe has also worked as a human rights observer in Palestine.
Joe was elected as a TD for the Green Party in November 2019 and served as Minister of State across three different government departments from 2020 until 2025. During his time in government, he launched the National Action Plan Against Racism, Ireland’s first National Philanthropy Policy and introduced the pursuit of human rights as a charitable purpose under the Charities Amendment Act.
Speaking today, Joe O’Brien said:
“I have followed and admired the work of the ICCL for decades, so it’s an absolute honour for me to take up the helm at the organisation at this critical time for civil liberties. With human rights under threat at home and abroad, there has never been more need for an organisation like ICCL, which is often the last line of defence when it comes to protecting the rights and freedoms of people in Ireland.
“My professional life has been consistently guided by human rights and equality. For over 20 years, I worked in community organisations, serving and supporting some of our most at-risk communities. I have always worked to try to ensure that every member of Irish society is treated fairly and equitably. I am energised to be returning to work in civil society and bringing my perspective, commitment and experience to ICCL.”
Joe’s appointment was welcomed by ICCL Chairperson, Colette Kelleher, who said:
“On behalf of the Board of ICCL, I am delighted to welcome Joe to the ICCL team. We conducted a rigorous recruitment process during which his extensive and extremely pertinent experience and skills became clear to us.
“With a lengthy career in the community sector and extensive experience in policy-making, advocacy and within politics, he brings a huge amount to the role. We look forward to working with him in the coming years.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Joe O’Brien bio
Joe has 20 years’ experience working in the community and voluntary sector for minority rights in front line, research, policy and advocacy roles. He has worked for organisations including Crosscare and the Immigrant Council of Ireland, and has authored reports on the immigration system and minority access to the social welfare system and homelessness supports.
Joe led several projects aimed at increasing migrants’ political participation in Ireland and sat on the Monitoring and Co-ordinating Committee of the National Migrant Integration Strategy. Early in his career he worked in youth services and homelessness services.
Joe served in government as a Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth between 2020 and 2025. During his time in government, he launched the National Action Plan Against Racism, Ireland’s first National Philanthropy Policy and introduced the pursuit of human rights as a charitable purpose under the Charities Amendment Act.
Joe has also worked as a human rights observer in Palestine and in 2019 was the first Green Party candidate to win a by-election. He served as a TD (member of Parliament) representing the Dublin Fingal constituency between 2019 and 2024.