Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and the motion. It is the culmination of a long process, but it is good to see the commitment shown to strengthening the mechanisms for protecting human rights and incorporating the Equality Authority. I had been critical of the moves made by the previous Government to weaken and undermine the authority. I described it as a quiet coup at one stage such was the level of its undermining. It is great to see such a change in focus and, in particular, the independent appointments process fulfilled in this way. It is welcome to hear the Minister say she does not know what mechanism was used to decide on who would have three or five year terms. It is very positive that it was done entirely independently. Obviously, we have already had hearings on the appointments issue and we also had a hearing with Emily Logan, who will be an excellent Chief Commissioner.

My question is about staffing levels in the new body. I should have checked the current level of staffing and funding for the new body before the meeting, but does the Minister believe it is sufficient to enable it to be effective? We are conscious that this body has been treading water for some time, unable to be as proactive as the two previous bodies were. We are hoping for added value with the combination of the two into one entity. How many staff will there be in the body? Is there a plan to increase that number in the future or will it stay static?