Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I am concerned about public perception of the commission. Where people can identify one person with an office, they are much more aware of its profile. People know who is the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and expect certain things of him. To appoint one person only would be very positive from the perspective of the commission's profile. While I am very happy the Minister is establishing an ombudsman commission, its operation as a three-person body should be reviewed down the line. The public likes to feel there is one person they can hold ultimately accountable. While the Supreme Court is a very different body, it is one with whose individual members people are generally not familiar beyond those involved in the legal system. Where an office is identified with one person, it is easy to understand its role. If the Minister will not reconsider the matter now, perhaps he will do so after the commencement of the operation of the commission.