Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the Northern Ireland Office's decision to downgrade the chief commissioner of the Equality Commission to a part-time post; and if he has raised this matter with the British Government. [11476/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's primary concern is to ensure that the new chief commissioner of the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland, who is expected to take office on 1 August 2005, has the required leadership, strategic and representational skills to chair one of the important institutions of the Good Friday Agreement. The quality and calibre of the prospective appointee will, therefore, be crucially important. In that regard, it is worth noting that the recent five-year review of the Equality Commission concluded that "the ability and competence of the post-holder should be considered to be of more importance than the issue of full-time or part-time tenure".

There have been preliminary discussions with the British Government on the matter. The British side has indicated that the post of chief commissioner has hitherto been full-time on account of the need to successfully amalgamate the four separate equality bodies that predated the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland. In its judgment, the post is now suitable to be exercised on a part-time basis. At the same time, the intention is that the precise time commitment of the new chief commissioner will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Within the framework of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, the Government expects to have further discussions with the British Government before the conclusion of the appointment process for a new chief commissioner.