Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I welcome the Taoiseach's optimism that the devolution of policing and justice functions will take place in the near future. Concern has been expressed by the chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission about the delay in publishing a promised consultation document on a bill of rights for Northern Ireland. That was promised in both the Good Friday Agreement and in the St. Andrew's Agreement. Has the Taoiseach raised that issue with the British Government?

In that context I also wish to ask him about the fears that have been expressed recently by the president of the Irish Human Rights Commission, Maurice Manning, who claims that commission will not be able to continue to exist if its funding is cut further in the budget. Since the establishment of that body also arose from the Good Friday Agreement, can the Taoiseach offer any hope to it that funding cuts will not threaten its continued existence?

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