Mr. Liam Herrick:

This issue has been raised with us by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, and we understand it has come before the Houses. It is of great importance from a human rights and an equality perspective and raises very complex questions about the interaction between constitutional law and international human rights standards. We will consider how the commission might most effectively deal with it. The issues for us are likely to be the availability of resources and the legislation and chief commissioner being put in place. We would like to play an active and positive role in the consideration of this issue by the Oireachtas in the coming months and perhaps into next year. It emphasises the urgency of resolving the resource and legislative issues at the earliest possible opportunity.