Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I wish those who are set to be appointed to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission the best of luck. I wish to use this opportunity to remind those involved that it is okay to rock the State boat and to criticise where fair criticism is required. It is okay to hold the Government to account and call it out on its failures in the area of rights and equality.

Rights and equality are fundamental pillars in any functioning forward thinking society that holds egalitarian values at its core. Incidentally, rights and equality are at the centre of the debate around the current impasse at Stormont. It is, therefore, integral that those who hold those positions acknowledge their influence and power and keep them to the forefront of their minds when partaking in the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission or any other rights advocacy bodies. I am confident that those entering the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in the coming weeks will do precisely that and that they are more than capable of doing so.

I know the Minister of State has been sent certain documents. I am unsure whether he or his officials are aware of the questions being raised and the perceived conflict of interest between the Public Appointments Service and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. I do not intend to go into the matter in depth or make individual accusations but I know the matter was raised in the Dáil recently. I am happy to give way for the Minister of State to respond if he so wishes.