Irish Council for Civil Liberties publishes first annual report since restructuring

Liam Herrick

The ICCL’s 2017 annual report details how the organisation has sought to handle the closure of Atlantic Philanthropies, its main funder since 1996.

Writing in the foreword, executive director Liam Herrick said the ICCL still had an “essential role to play in defending justice, promoting equality and strengthening human rights”.

He added: “What inspires us in our work is a firm belief that there is a real opportunity to improve our society through the advancement of human rights. While we face real challenges, we are also living at a hopeful moment, where Ireland is shaking off the remaining elements of moral authoritarianism in our laws.

“We have proven that Ireland is now a progressive society with strong public support for human rights, where our political system is open to new ideas and where grassroots movements and activists can bring up radical change. In the world of 2018, that is a privileged position to be in. We need to make sure that we grasp all of the opportunities that this affords us.”

Employment law expert Marguerite Bolger SC and Maynooth University law lecturer Dr Maria Murphy joined the ICCL’s executive board in 2017, alongside Mary Lawlor, Tony Hanway and Maurice Manning.

Alan D.P. Brady, Claire Hamilton and Clare Naughton, who “played key roles at critical phases in ICCL’s development over recent years”, departed from the board.

Five staff members - deputy director Deirdre Duffy, Suzanne Handley, Stephen O’Hare, Pia Janning and Emily Glen - left the organisation in 2017.

Experienced human rights lawyer Dr Maeve O’Rourke, Elizabeth Farries, Sinéad Nolan and Chris McCartin joined the staff.