Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I thank Senators Bacik, Norris and O'Toole for proposing this motion. In times of crisis such as that we are currently experiencing, it is easy to retreat into narrow and confined self-interest. During such times, priorities change quickly, previously held beliefs are diluted and core principles are often relegated to fringe concerns. We all know we are facing an extended period of economic contraction. A new set of priorities is needed if we are to face our new challenges. That will involve sacrifice and compromise. We must not let our difficulties and challenges serve as a smokescreen for moral cowardice. While the scale of the financial crisis in this country is unprecedented, it does not provide political cover for a fire sale of our values. It is too easy to argue that everything has a price and that nothing is sacred. It is important to send a message that our culture of philanthropy, promotion of common decency and commitment to human rights is not for sale at any price.

Nationally, the past 15 years have seen considerable advances in the promotion and development of human rights across a range of sectors. Today and previously in this House, Senators have expressed concern that these advances are under attack from the Government. My party shares these concerns. On a personal level, I am deeply concerned that the debacle surrounding the dilution of the power of the Equality Authority — I refer in particular to the resignation of its chief executive, Mr. Niall Crowley, and other members of its board — has set a disturbing precedent for how the Government intends to proceed. It is beyond doubt that this episode was politically motivated. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and other members of the Government continue to insult our intelligence by denying this is what happened. We should call it what it is — an insult.

Like the first Freedom of Information Act, the Equality Authority has been a victim of its own success. It went about its business in a forceful manner. It rattled many cages by doing what it was supposed to do. The Government opted to strip the Equality Authority of the resources it needed to carry out its work. That should not come as a surprise to us because the Government frequently regards dissent as an unfortunate by-product of democracy. The dissemination of lies, spin and misinformation to discredit Mr. Crowley and his fellow board members as they tried to conduct the authority's work was unedifying in the extreme.