Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 20, to delete lines 37 and 38 and substitute the following:“(a) comprise—

(i) the key objectives and related strategies, including the use of resources of the Commission, and

(ii) having had regard to subparagraph (i), the key priorities and objectives of the Chief Commissioner for his or her term of office,

and”.

This amendment is in response to suggestions that the role of the chief commissioner be set out in the Bill, and I understand there was much discussion about this. The job description for the position as advertised by the Public Appointments Service includes key responsibilities, and Deputies are very familiar with them. The person shall act as chairperson of the commission and its committees as appropriate and ensure that the commission operates as a collegiate body; provide strategic leadership to the commission, including leading on the development of the strategic plan and the strategic plan cycle; represent and act as the public voice of the commission, including participation in relevant national and international forums; and support and supervise generally the director in the exercise of his or her statutory functions and the day-to-day administration of the commission’s business. An outstanding individual is sought to become chief commissioner and this person should be able to give strategic direction to the work of the IHREC. He or she should also be able to unite and lead a team of commissioners from diverse backgrounds and forge good working relations with partner organisations across the public, private and voluntary and community sectors.

The Attorney General has advised that these are too detailed for inclusion in legislation and could prove to be too restrictive if they were included. It is better to leave day-to-day decisions about which member of the commission is best placed to handle specific tasks to the discretion of the commission as a body corporate. That said, we thought it useful to provide that the chief commissioner should set out his or her personal key priorities and objectives for his or her term of office as part of the commission’s strategy statement. That is the right approach as the statement will be laid before the House. The approach I am recommending in this amendment therefore gives an opportunity for the chief commissioner to engage directly with the committee on what his or her personal contribution and priorities will be. This will be laid out for the term of office or the life of the particular strategy statement.

This amendment allows for increased engagement by the commission with the Parliament through work in committees. The priorities of the commissioner will be laid out clearly, which will lead to more effective discussion on how the strategic plan may go.

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