August 2022 We have written to the European Commission to express our strong reservations with respect to the passage of the Electoral Reform Bill (2022) in its current form. If passed it could have an impact on the free expression …
Coalition for Civil Society Freedom submission on the Electoral Reform Bill
May 2022 ICCL is the coordinator of the Coalition for Civil Society Freedom, a coalition of 5 organisations working for the benefit of everyone in Ireland. In the Coalition’s submission to the Oireachtas on the Electoral Reform Bill, we highlight …
ICCL submission on the Electoral Reform Bill
May 2022 ICCL voiced our concern that the continuing undemocratic restrictions on freedom ofassociation contained in the 1997 Electoral Act which will be further encoded into law in the Electoral Reform Bill. Our submission supplements those made by the Coalition …
UN criticises Irish ban on funding for charity sector
Two prominent UN human rights experts, including Irishwoman Mary Lawlor – Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders – have criticised Ireland regarding its ban on fundraising for civil society. Ms Lawlor and Clément Voule, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of …
Irish Civil Society Brings Funding Law to UN
01 July 2020 A coalition of NGOs has written to a UN human rights expert expressing concern that overly stringent restrictions on funding mean Irish campaigners are hampered in their work. The NGOs say that in the past three years …
Four of the major parties commit wholeheartedly to human rights
4 February 2020 Four of the major parties contesting General Election 2020 have committed to ICCL’s 8 straightforward but crucial asks which would advance the cause of human rights in Ireland if implemented. Sinn Féin, the Green Party, the Social …
ICCL asks candidates to commit to 8 straightforward human rights advances
14 January 2019 Email your local candidates in support of ICCL’s 8 asks Update: See if your candidates have endorsed human rights: The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) today launched its Election 2020 Manifesto. The human rights organisation has …
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 …
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 …