New ICCL director vows to foster human rights culture
The new director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties Mark Kelly is vowing to foster a human rights culture and ensure that Ireland lives up to the standards of international law.
Mr Kelly, who was appointed to the post this week, will also be monitoring whether the new Garda Ombudsman's office fulfils its role of ensuring garda accountability.
He said that the ICCL is in a good position to keep an eye on human rights issues as it is completely independent.
“No member is appointed by government, the organisation has never taken any funding whatsoever from government, so it’s genuinely free to stand up for basic liberties when they may be under threat," he said.
“And I do think in the current climate where there are serious problems related to organised crime and a continuing threat of terrorism that it is more important than ever that a body like the ICCL be there to speak truth to power.”
