Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators Ruane, Higgins, Black and Flynn for these amendments. Amendment No. 23 seeks to amend existing provisions in order that, in addition to an coimisiún’s annual report being published, it would be published in an accessible manner. Amendment No. 51 seeks to provide that the post-electoral event reviews that an coimisiún may produce would be published in accessible formats.

I am not able to accept these amendments for the following reasons. The wording of amendment No. 23, which relates to the publication of an coimisiún’s annual report, is based on established precedent set in section 28 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. Being mindful of the independence of an coimisiún, I intend to leave the decision-making on this matter of the most appropriate means for the publication of an coimisiún’s documents, including the annual report, to an coimisiún itself. It should be noted that under section 26, an coimisiún’s annual report is required to be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. A complete record of all documents laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas is available on the Oireachtas website.

Amendments Nos. 23 and 51 relate to the accessibility of formats of documents. In that regard, the European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020 came into force on 23 September 2020 and will apply to the website of, and content produced by, an coimisiún. I am satisfied that accessibility of documents is already appropriately provided for.