Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The work of the commission is of first importance. I think Ms Logan will agree that her job is not just to promote best practice in equality matters or defend the equality of all citizens and, as we have just discussed, people who are perhaps not yet citizens, but, in addition to vindicating human rights and the concept of equality, is there not also a need to create a culture of respect among the public for human rights? I have particular concerns because in some ways in this country we are becoming a more divided society where all people do not have the same values. This creates a difficulty in terms of where we locate our sense of what constitutes authentic human rights. Ms Logan mentioned the Constitution in her presentation as our primary and most authoritative source for what constitutes authentic human rights. I have a concern that is shared by many about the role of international human rights agencies. I was extremely unhappy with the behaviour of the UN Human Rights Commission recently and the comments of Sir Nigel Rodley, in particular, about Ireland’s abortion laws.