Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

If the Human Rights Commission is of the solid belief that something infringes human rights, let it say so. If it does not believe that, let it state so too. The notion that something may infringe human rights is made public, and we are left to deal with it, which is unsatisfactory. If it reaches the opinion that something might be an infringement but that on balance it agrees with the Minister that it is not, let it say so. If something might be an infringement and the Human Rights Commission believes it is, let it say so. The unelaborated notion that something may be an infringement leaves everyone with a question mark, despite the fact that commissioners are selected on the basis of experience in the area. We need their clear and unambiguous opinions in future.

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