A person’s income, accent, address or school background should not dictate how they are treated. And yet our equality laws do not prohibit discrimination on the basis of socio-economic status. We urgently need to include socio-economic status as a tenth ground in Irish equality legislation.

“One of the biggest problems is that the legal framework and the licensing framework governing private security doesn’t really cover the use of force and also things like duty of care" - ICCL's @emilywilliams19.bsky.social. www.dublininquirer.com/theres-a-pla...

There's a plan for safety wardens on O'Connell Street – here's how similar initiatives have gone in other countries

Even with no arrest or fining powers, private patrols can assert considerable authority over who gets to use public spaces.

dublininquirer.com

ICCL urges An Garda Síochána to ensure that all gardaí involved in public order policing – including frontline gardaí and members of the Public Order Unit – uphold their obligation to facilitate the right to peaceful protest and observe their use of force policy. www.iccl.ie/news/video-g...

Video footage of Garda baton strikes against restrained protestor extremely concerning - ICCL

Footage showing baton strikes to man’s neck and shoulder area raises questions about necessity and proportionality of Garda use of force at Trinity protest.

iccl.ie

ICCL welcomes the news that the Department of Justice and the Law Society have reached an agreement on the criminal legal aid scheme. We hope this represents a lasting resolution and that access to justice will resume for everyone involved in the criminal justice system. www.rte.ie/news/courts/...

Legal aid dispute between solicitors, minister resolved

The dispute between criminal legal aid solicitors and the Minister for Justice over a new payment scheme has been resolved.

rte.ie

ICCL has comprehensive Know Your Rights guides on a range of topics including the right to protest. As security is ramped up in Dublin and many people prepare to protest and march as part of strike action, make sure you know your rights. www.iccl.ie/your-rights/

We wrote to Robert Watt on Wednesday about his proposal for private security on Dublin's streets. He said yesterday that he had not yet seen the letter, but: “When the proposal is finalised people can scrutinise and decide whether we should proceed or not.” www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

Rights group queries legal basis for deploying ‘private security actors’ on Dublin streets

Robert Watt says warden proposal will be available for scrutiny when finalised

irishtimes.com

Today the Oireachtas Justice Committee published its pre-legislative scrutiny report on the Legacy of the Troubles Bill General Scheme. We welcome many of its recommendations, including its call for a Historical Investigations Unit for unresolved Troubles-related cases. www.iccl.ie/news/iccl-oi...

ICCL welcomes Oireachtas Committee call for Historical Investigations Unit for unresolved Troubles-related cases

Justice Committee also recommends that the power to withhold information from the future UK Legacy Commission is removed from ministers.

iccl.ie

Yesterday, after media reports that plans were underway to put private security on the streets of Dublin, we wrote to Robert Watt asking a range of questions. Most fundamentally: What do Robert Watt and DublinTown envisage being the legal basis for this proposal? www.iccl.ie/news/private...

Private security on Dublin streets? ICCL asks Robert Watt for the legal basis.

According to media reports, plans are advancing to hire private security actors to patrol Dublin city centre. ICCL wrote to Robert Watt to establish the legal basis.

iccl.ie

UN experts now in contact with Irish Government over concerns about its supervision of BIg Tech. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Independent data protection oversight and effective access to justice essential to protecting privacy rights: UN experts

GENEVA – The independence of data protection authorities and effective access to courts are essential to safeguarding the right to privacy, particularly where powerful technology companies are involve...

ohchr.org

Listen back to @olgacronin.bsky.social and @janetphorner.bsky.social pushing back against this proposal on @rteradio1.bsky.social this morning. www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Private security to patrol Dublin City

Plans for private security officers to patrol Dublin city centre in addition to normal Garda policing. For more on this Janet Horner, green party councillor and Olga Cronin, ICCL head of policy.

rte.ie

Irish Council for Civil Liberties 🏳️‍🌈@iccl.bsky.social · 2w ago

Robert Watt and Dublin Town are reportedly planning to hire private security operatives to patrol Dublin city centre. Our Head of Policy @olgacronin.bsky.social will be on RTE with @mcculld.bsky.social at 9am to discuss our many concerns about this proposal. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dubl...

Private security on Dublin's streets? With successive Irish governments being so poor on business and human rights, privatising a public function like this is a terrible idea Good pushback from @olgacronin.bsky.social & @janetphorner.bsky.social on @mcculld.bsky.social www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Today with David McCullagh - RTÉ Radio 1

David McCullagh brings you closer to the stories defining your day - with live reports, sharp analysis, and engaging conversations across politics, entertainment, sport, and every day life.

rte.ie

Robert Watt and Dublin Town are reportedly planning to hire private security operatives to patrol Dublin city centre. Our Head of Policy @olgacronin.bsky.social will be on RTE with @mcculld.bsky.social at 9am to discuss our many concerns about this proposal. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dubl...

Private security to patrol Dublin city centre

Move follows discussions between capital’s regeneration chief Robert Watt and city businesses

irishtimes.com

Join us today as we call on Jim O'Callaghan to scrap his proposed citzenship changes. We can't let the government make it harder for people who have built their lives here to become citizens. Stand with us and make your voice heard! 🗓 Today 🕐 1-2pm 📍 Leinster House, Dublin

The Minister for Justice’s intervention with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s consent campaign video on hugging risks creating “a pervasive chilling effect and self-censorship” within society. www.thejournal.ie/consent-hugg...

Minister ordering removal of consent ad risks having ‘chilling effect’ on society, rights group says

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties said the move also raises questions “about government or ministerial interference in the work of civil society”.

thejournal.ie

The Justice Minister interfering with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre consent campaign "because it does not represent the views of the Government" is unsettling. Interference like this risks creating a chilling effect and self-censorship within wider civil society. www.iccl.ie/news/justice...

Justice Minister’s interference with Dublin Rape Crisis Centre consent campaign unsettling

Risk of chilling effect and self-censorship within civil society as pressure placed on DRCC to remove video five weeks after it was first posted.

iccl.ie

"Allowing untrammelled access to messages as proposed by the minister is surely a mistake [...] such a step brings us further along a slippery slope to the complete absence of privacy, however one understands that term in the 21st century." - Irish Examiner www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/ourv...

Irish Examiner view: State access to encrypted messages a slippery slope

Strong groundswell of opposition to legislation proposed by justice minister

irishexaminer.com

We brought our Global Encryption Day message to Leinster House today: Tell Jim O'Callaghan & Brussels to scrap their plans to break encryption & protect our privacy & security online. @cdt.org @cdteu.org @nujofficial.bsky.social @nwc.bsky.social @digitalrightsirl.bsky.social @brianhonan.bsky.social

New polling for #GlobalEncryptionDay: 93% of Irish people say they have a right to private conversations online. As our CEO @brianhonan.bsky.social puts it, there’s “no such thing as a backdoor that only the good guys can use.” www.iccl.ie/news/new-pol...

New poll: Irish public rejects State breaking of encryption

The Irish public believes they have the right to private conversations online. A majority says the government should not have the power to access encrypted messages.

iccl.ie

The first Irish opinion poll on encryption is clear: - 93% say we have a right to private online conversations - 66% say government should not get power to access encrypted messages It comes as Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan plans new Garda interception powers - including for encrypted messages.

Today we launch a new @cdt.org poll which finds that the Irish public has “significant and clear distrust” of the State accessing private phone messages. This comes as Minister Jim O'Callaghan plans to give gardai powers to intercept encrypted communications. www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...

Irish public has ‘clear distrust’ of proposals to allow State access private messages

In Irish Council for Civil Liberties survey, fewer than 20% of respondents said they would trust law enforcement to use a power to access encrypted messages without users’ knowledge

irishexaminer.com

The Minister for Justice must meet his responsibilities for all victims of crime and accused persons. We need a lasting resolution to months of disruption in the courts which have significantly impacted the rights of victims of crime and accused persons. www.iccl.ie/news/justice...

Justice Minister must meet his responsibilities for all victims of crime and accused persons

Months of deadlock must end: Minister must engage in urgent, meaningful talks with solicitors and vindicate the justice rights of all.

iccl.ie

A bill to deal with the legacy of the Troubles is being discussed in the UK House of Commons today and tomorrow, forming one piece of the jigsaw in addressing the legacy of the conflict. The other piece is Ireland’s parallel legislation, the Legacy of the Troubles Bill 2026.

The family of Detective Garda Colm Horkan have lived what they themselves describe as “a nightmare” since he was killed on 17 June 2020. Despite engaging with Garda Commissioners and Justice Ministers, over six years later they still have serious unanswered questions. www.iccl.ie/news/detecti...

Detective Colm Horkan's family deserves answers - ICCL

ICCL urges Minister Jim O'Callaghan to engage with the family and heed their call for a public inquiry.

iccl.ie

Keep Citizenship Fair! Scrap the changes! The government's proposed citizenship changes would make it harder for people who have built lives here to become citizens. We can't let that happen. Join us and make your voice heard. 🗓️ Tuesday 3 November 🕐 1-2pm 📍 Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has published its report on 'smart' glasses and it reinforces our @iccl.bsky.social serious concerns: these are intrusive recording devices that can enable near-invisible collection and storage of people's data without their knowledge, let alone consent.

Luis Alberto Montezuma 路易斯·阿尔贝托·蒙特祖玛@montezumachavez.bsky.social · last mo.

During its latest plenary, the EDPB has adopted statement on smart glasses: www.edpb.europa.eu/news/edpb-pu...

Over 300,000 public sector workers are on strike across Ireland today. ICCL has comprehensive Know Your Rights guides on a range of topics including the right to protest. Make sure you know your rights every time you protest. www.iccl.ie/your-rights/

Restore funding for democracy. ICCL, @eumovementireland.bsky.social and @thewheelireland.bsky.social have written an open letter to the President of the European Council and EU Heads of State or Government, ahead of the European Council summit this week. www.europeanmovement.ie/joint-statem...

Policy Briefing | Joint Statement on EU Civil Society Strategy

Coalition of Irish civil society organisations and European Movement Ireland urge the European Commission to adopt a robust EU Civil Society Strategy to safeguard democracy and NGO rights.

europeanmovement.ie

⚖️ Europe’s democratic challenges are well known. The @ec.europa.eu’s Annual Rule of Law Reporting Cycle is one of the EU’s main tools to address them. But is it driving democratic repair or simply documenting decline? Liberties' #ROLGapAnalysis2026 findings reveal its underwhelming impact ⤵️🧵

Months into the Minister for Justice’s new criminal legal aid scheme, many courts are at a standstill. Vulnerable people feel some of the worst impacts. We urge the Minister to engage in mediation and to work towards a resolution in the interests of access to justice. www.iccl.ie/news/iccl-ju...

ICCL calls on Justice Minister to engage in mediation requested by solicitors to resolve legal aid dispute

Ireland needs a criminal legal aid scheme which gives access to justice and fulfils the State’s duty.

iccl.ie

More than 160 great civil society organisations and groups have endorsed our National March for Palestine on Saturday. Join us, 1pm, Garden of Remembrance. #FreePalestine