Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, to the House. He was Chairman of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality when the issue of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission was discussed on many occasions. I believe the commission is doing a good job.

The country has an unrivalled reputation in championing human rights. We are considered a neutral country. Ambassadors and volunteers from Ireland have gone abroad to assist in conflict resolution over many decades. The work carried out by the Defence Forces, including the Army, in peacekeeping illustrates this as does the work of the thousands of people who went to the Third World over many decades to try to promote human rights and to help people who were in challenging situations.

It is appropriate that we have a human rights and equality authority completely above reproach. The fact that neither the Government nor the Department of Justice and Equality has any hand, act or part in anything in terms of the selecting of the commissioners is relevant. The Minister of State has quite rightly pointed this out in outlining the process from the placing of the advertisement right up to the appointment. The list of candidates is not required to come before the Minister in shortlist form as with other State boards.

Those involved have an important job to do. I hope sometime we will be able to look at our country as a society that is completely equal and that respects human rights of all minority groups and all citizens. The work that must be carried out by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is immense and important. I agree with Senator Warfield that the commission should not be afraid to challenge Government. Challenging Government and those of us in the Oireachtas makes us do our job better. Ultimately, the net beneficiaries will be the citizens and, in particular, those whose human rights may not have been protected and respected the way they should have been.

I welcome this motion. Perhaps at some stage, the Minister of State could come to the House for a more in-depth discussion on equality and human rights issues. From a Fine Gael perspective, we are very happy with the work being done by the commission and we wish it well.