Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

A cost benefit analysis is being carried out on this, but the total financial allocation for the five agencies mentioned is around €18 million for 2000. They employ 170 staff. I deny that the Government is trying to dilute the issue of adherence to human rights. We have a commitment under the Good Friday Agreement to have infrastructure on the protection of human rights, which will continue. However, it makes sense to look at the issue of trying to get value for money. Fine Gael has made its name on these issues to a certain extent. I have been subjected in previous ministries to exhortations from that side of the House, particularly Fine Gael, to set up agencies all over the place. I have to say that I have generally resisted that. It has to be said that we are where we are.

I am looking at all agencies — not just the five mentioned — in the context of the 2009 Estimates, which will be difficult. We are looking to find synergies in order to save taxpayers' money. For example, my Department's payroll is organised centrally by a part of the Department. Other Departments are now using that to save on payroll costs, including the Department of the Taoiseach. That saves money in processing salaries for civil servants in both Departments. That is what we are looking at.

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