Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the spirit of this amendment because it is reflects an issue I raised on Second Stage with the Minister of State, Deputy Gerald Nash, namely, my concern to ensure the equality function of the new entity is not downgraded. Indeed, I suggested at one point that we should consider putting the word "equality" into the name of the new body, because equality law and the equality jurisprudence that has been built up are very important. I was assured on Second Stage by the Minister of State that the new structures, which were generally welcomed as being much more streamlined and sensible, would not in any way lead to a deprioritising of the equality measures or the equality expertise that has been built up among the equality officer staff. While I appreciate the spirit of the amendment, as I said, I hope it will not be necessary to make this provision. Nevertheless, I look forward to the Minister's response. It is important that we ensure our equality jurisprudence is not deprioritised under the new entity.