Irish Council for Civil Liberties

Lobbying Organisation Irish Council for Civil Liberties

Date published 21 May, 2021

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Jan, 2021 to 30 Apr, 2021

Specific Details Right to Protest / Freedom of Expression

Intended results Call for introduction of guidelines for protesting safety during Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. Express concerns about impact of Section 4 of The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 on freedom of expression

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Liam Herrick and Doireann Ansbro

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (2-5)

Letter sent to the Minister for Justice, Director of Public Prosecutions, and Chief Prosecution Solicitor in January 2021 regarding Section 4 of Harmful Communications and Harassment Act and Protest Letter sent to Minister for Justice in March 2021 calling for introduction of guidelines for protesting safely during lockdown.

Email (1)

Email to Bríd Smith, TD in regards to the Right to Protest sent in April 2021

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Justice)

Claire Loftus Director of Public Prosecutions (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)

Helena Kiely Chief Prosecution Solicitor (The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions)

Bríd Smith TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)