Youth Defence lashes funding disclosure plans

Anti-abortion campaign group Youth Defence said it should not be subject to rules on disclosure of funding because it is a human rights organisation and “not campaigning for political purposes”.

The group was responding to a report in this newspaper that Environment Minister Phil Hogan is considering laws that would force Youth Defence, and other third-party groups, to register with the political-funding watchdog.

The Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) said it is “firmly of the view” that the activities of Youth Defence are political and it should therefore register with it and submit its accounts.