Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The substance of the work is what is important. I do not have any views one way or the other with regard to what organisational format should be provided. Generally speaking, the party opposite would be of the view we should, where possible, try to increase the level of responsibility of some of these organisations and see whether we can pull them together. On the point made by Deputy Flanagan regarding the Good Friday Agreement, no re-organisation should in any way take away from the confidence that has been built up in these organisations in respect of the human rights work they are doing. We are cognisant of what the Deputy suggests, but we must try to see if both objectives can be met.

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