Thread: Church of Ireland hire lobbyist to campaign against EQUATEs baptism barrier proposals in mid 2017. Same lobbyist makes serious of unfounded complaints against EQUATE to SIPO Feb2017-Jan2018. CoI say he wasn’t working for them at time of making complaints - he clearly was 
Documents released under FOI further show that a SIPO gave EQUATE a clean bill of health yet staff member kept in contact with this CoI lobbyist informing them of its dealings with EQUATE and passing on his demands to us (including to take down website)
We were aware that complaints were being made against us. We suspected religious vested interest groups were using them to block our Equality work but I’m astonished by the extent of complaints, how vigorously the were pursued & how SIPO behaved thorough
For too long religious vested interest groups have held too much sway in how education policy is made in Ireland. EQUATE was successfully opening the space to families and communities - which I believe provoked this response - which I’d categorize as a dirty tricks campaign
We now need: 1. Amend the Electoral Act so this can never happen again to legit human rights orgs 2. Full review of SIPO processes so they can’t again be manipulated by vested interests 3. Redouble efforts to ensure Equality in Education
There’s a detailed discussion with @EchoChambersPod here: itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the… & if you don’t want this to happen again sign the letter to the Taoiseach: action.uplift.ie/campaigns/284
#ThePeoplesVoice @ICCLtweet
#ThePeoplesVoice @ICCLtweet
