Dr. Stephen Farry:

I will put on record, and I am sure other committee members will echo this, that all human rights commissions are crucially important but in the context of Northern Ireland and the range of issues, there is a particular importance and context to that. The NIHRC is also a direct product of the Good Friday Agreement. As the Oireachtas committee on the implementation of that agreement, it is important we take note of what Ms Kilpatrick said around the potential risks and dangers to the position of what is one of the core institutions under the agreement.