Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for arriving late to the Chamber. I welcome the Minister to the House. Following our really good debate on Second Stage of this Bill, I welcome this amendment. We spoke on Second Stage about the importance of having Oireachtas supervision of appointments such as this. I mentioned at the time the proposed merged Human Rights and Equality Authority on which we had hearings before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. It is appropriate that amendment No. 13 provides for such a committee "as may be designated by the Minister". Given the changes we have seen in committee structures, even in the past 12 months, it is more appropriate to say that rather than specify a particular committee at this stage. I welcome the amendment and the principle behind it.