Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I congratulate Senators Norris, O'Toole and Bacik for tabling this motion. There is a similar motion on the Order Paper from the Fine Gael Party which the Minister of State may care to examine. I note his remark that there is an overt and unfair negative tone to the motion. However, in light of the decisions taken by the Government in regard to the Combat Poverty Agency and the Equality Authority, this negative tone is not surprising. The actions taken are extraordinarily undermining of our human rights legacy and the attempts to build a strong human rights base in this State.

These bodies arose from legislation passed in this House, itself arising from our international and European Union obligations. The past ten years have seen a slow building up of structures to support human rights in the State. It has been a difficult battle. It is easy to forget that it is not so many years since there were heated arguments arising from the attempt to put employment equality and human rights legislation on the Statute Book and to facilitate the establishment of bodies such as the Equality Authority and the Equality Tribunal. It has taken a long time to build up the skills, expertise and information they have, especially staff expertise. The steps taken by the Government have brought disruption to that expertise. In the case of the Combat Poverty Agency, the Government effectively abolished that independent voice. Unfortunately, that is typical of this Government which seems to have reached a point where it is extremely concerned about independent voices. It has got so used to the partnership model that when people speak independently and offer a critique, which is a critical part of an independent democratic society, the Government intervenes and undermines them. Never was this so blatant as in the case of these two organisations.

The Government has given a commitment to working with the agencies. I would like to see that developed in the coming weeks and months but I regret very much the actions taken with regard to these bodies. They are a retrograde step for the country and for democracy.