Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 781: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to fact that the President of Irish Human Rights Commission, who reports to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform indicated to the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday-Belfast Agreement that many of the issues which the Commission deals with extend beyond the remit of his Department; if he will facilitate a reporting change to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28756/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of views recently expressed by the President of the Irish Human Rights Commission that the Commission is currently administratively linked to a Government Department rather than the Oireachtas and that the accountability arrangements should be changed such that the Commission becomes accountable directly to the Oireachtas.

While the Human Rights Commission Act 2000 provides that the Commission shall be independent in the performance of its functions it also provides, as in the case of other statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department such as the Court Service, that the Commission is responsible to my Department in such matters as staff and finance. As is normal also in such matters, the expenses incurred in the administration of the Act of 2000 must be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance. Moreover, the Act also provides for the chief executive of the Commission to be accountable to the Public Accounts Committee and any other Oireachtas Committee.