Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

Merging two organisations with two cultures is never easy. The Equality Authority, as one would expect, had a particular focus on the issue of equality. Can we take it from the Minister's reply that independent legal assistance and advice will continue to be made available to those who require it and that such assistance will be provided in a proactive way? Does the Minister intend to take the opportunity, in enacting the legislation required to merge the two bodies, to go further by introducing additional reforms? If so, are there areas of particular concern to him?

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