Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Thank you for that. Mr. Carroll, in the absence of any other hands showing I would like to ask some questions. Head 13 relates to attendance of the commissioner before an Oireachtas committee. We are going to have that opportunity shortly. Head 13 states: "The Commissioner or, in the event of more than one Commissioner, the Chairperson shall, at the request in writing of a committee of the Oireachtas, attend before it to give account for the general administration of the Commission and report on the performance of its functions." I take it this provision is referring to any committee of the Oireachtas. However, the explanatory note is quite specific in respect of accountability to an Oireachtas committee rather than to the Minister and Department and how it will serve to underpin the functional independence. In that instance - this is only for the point of clarity, and no better place to ask for it - would the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality be the designated committee in respect of the primary accountability of the commissioner or commission, as the case might be? Would she, he or they be open to requests from any committee of these Houses?