Ms Sinéad Gibney:

I will respond to the comment about committees, and I thank Deputy Higgins. One of the things that we have consistently called for since 2016 is an actual Oireachtas committee on human rights, equality and diversity, which is something that I cannot neglect the opportunity to plug. It is important to have lived experience, but the establishment of a committee would allow the Oireachtas to identify well in advance these issues as they arise. It would allow for proper participation and engagement with people. I realise that the emergency legislation that was put in place in response to Covid happened in a very quick timeframe, but those kinds of mechanisms being in place would allow the Oireachtas to have that consultation and proofing built in, similar to the equality budgeting that we see in development. Those kinds of mechanisms mean that these problems do not become bigger problems.

We have developed the disability advisory committee with a wonderful group of people with lived experience. As a human rights and equality body of this country, we still have a lot to learn. Everybody has a lot to learn. The members will learn from really embracing Article 4(3), on this committee and every committee in the Oireachtas, from really listening to people with lived experience and making sure that the voices of people with disabilities, and indeed of all the other minorities who we work on behalf of, are heard and understood.