Numerous other organisations have also been impacted.

Both the order to return the donation and the threat of criminal sanction have had a crippling impact on the group and its work. Separately, Education Equality, a voluntary organisation made up of concerned parents, has been forced to return a donation it received for its campaign on equal access to education following a threat of possible criminal investigation and prosecution. The grant was made to support a campaign to ensure abortion laws in Ireland comply with human rights. Failure to comply would be a criminal offence under the Electoral ActвЂ™s вЂthird partyвЂ™ provisions. The organisation itself could face a criminal investigation and possible prosecution after being told by the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPOC) that a foreign donation it received is prohibited by law.ДЄmnesty International Ireland has been ordered to pay back a в‚¬137,000 grant received from the Open Society Foundations (OSF) last year. Charities and NGOs face crackdown on funding as Electoral Act weaponised by those opposed to human rights and equality.Д¬ivil society groups in Ireland are being unfairly targeted under a draconian law that can be used to criminalise campaigning organisations, Amnesty International Ireland said today.

Draconian laws definition