Irish Council for Civil Liberties

Lobbying Organisation Irish Council for Civil Liberties

Date published 20 May, 2023

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Jan, 2023 to 30 Apr, 2023

Specific Details Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill

Intended results Amend legislation in line with human rights law and standards. To raise ICCL's concerns about the bill. Seek a meeting with the Data Protection Commissioner. Request for a Parliamentary Question to be asked about body worn cameras. Seek to hold an information session in Leinster House.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Liam Herrick & Olga Cronin

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? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? Sign a petition demanding that Facial Recognition Technology should not be introduced in Ireland.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All TDs Email to all TDs raising concerns about the bill sent in January 2023.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (2-5)

Letter to Minister for Justice, Simon Harris TD, Secretary General, Oongah McPhilips, and Assistant Secretary General Rachel Woods sent in January 2023. Letter to Data Protection Commissioner, Helen Dixon sent March 2023

Email (2-5)

Email correspondence with Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD and Patrick Costello TD in April 2023

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Minister for Justice, Simon Harris TD, Senior officials and advisers on 20 Feb 2023.

Social Media (2-5)

Tweets directed at Minister for Justice Simon Harris TD in February and April 2023.

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.

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Justice)

Helen Dixon Data Protection Commissioner (The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Patrick Costello TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Oonagh McPhillips Secretary General (Department of Justice)

Rachel Woods Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice)

John O'Callaghan Assistant Secretary (Department of Justice)

Patrick Cluskey Special Adviser (Department of Justice)

Fiach Kelly Special Adviser (Department of Justice)