Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yes. It is funny because I was trying to figure out the definition of what is "political" and what is not. I am of the view that pretty much everything we do is political. How then do we come to a definition of what will be excluded as an organisation for charitable purposes? I looked at the document and there was reference to a youth group set up for migrants. The group was advocating for extra funding, organised a march and used its resources to march to the Dáil. That would be permissible. We are getting into subjective opinions on what would be deemed permissible and what would not be.

From the perspective of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, how do we manage to do this? If a group is set up exclusively for political purposes, this would be quite clear. The other set-up is very nuanced. Where a body is trying to change legislation or is seeking funding, it would be a bit dangerous if an organisation linked to the State had the power to tell that body it is not a charity or could not use particular charitable funding. This has the potential to be abused if the State organisation did not like a body. Does that make sense?