Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the comments about the staff of the Department. Mr. Deaglan O'Briain and Ms Mary McKenna who are accompanying me have put a great deal of work into the development of the legislation and the establishment of the commission.

On Report Stage in the Seanad I said I would be fully supportive of the committee in respect of the change to the Title to include human rights. I believe this should be pursued.

Regarding the issue raised by Senator Martin Conway, as it is before the Supreme Court, I will not comment on it. As the function of that body has been moved to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, that Department would make the decision on the regulations mentioned by the Senator.

I can confirm that the body will begin its term from 1 November. With regard to having three and five year terms, that decision was made by the independent panel. It decided how to deal with who would have a term of three years or five years. We do not have any of the details because it was done independently. The panel obviously worked out its own rationale and agreed on who would have a three year term and who would have a five year term.