Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Mr. O'Leary is so welcome. He is doing a blindingly good job. This has been such a fascinating conversation to listen to for the past hour or so.

I have a comment more than a question. Mr. O'Leary referred to trying to validate the commission's existence as an independent authority with regard to information. I think it has already done a superb job. For politicians like me and my colleagues, it is lovely to be able to have somebody who is independent to whom we can point people. They do not have to believe what I am saying to them because there are probably equal voices on the other side that are very credible, even in this referendum, that are saying the opposite. To be able to point to somewhere that really is independent and that gives factual information is a huge godsend that we have never had before. I honestly do think you are doing a great job. A test of the independence was when somebody had to correct something a Minister said in the last week as to being not quite reflective of what is in the Constitution. The Minister had to come out and say that it was her interpretation or whatever.

The facts are important and to be able to trust a source for only the facts is a wonderful resource for us to have. I wanted to say thank you. We talk about disinformation and particular groups spreading information. We are living in an age where we are so digitalised that we nearly all believe something that is online that is not true. It is very easy. I can admit that the night we had the awful riots in Dublin, I absolutely believed that the Army was on its way to Dublin; I saw a picture and thought it must be true. It turned out to be total nonsense. We are all a little susceptible to believing things that are not quite true. It is really wonderful to have an organisation that is truly independent, despite you thinking you have to earn that badge over the months and years ahead. I think it is already working. It is really exciting to look at the programme of work that you have. We have been giving out about things for years and they have never been fixed. Even though you are only up and running a couple of months, I can already see the momentum building to get things fixed in a positive way.

I wish Mr. O'Leary and his team well and continued success. I thank the Cathaoirleach for letting me in.