Katherine Zappone (Independent)

-----but it needs to prove in its first year that it is able to be independent and comply. As Members will recall, the budgets of the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority were cut significantly in 2008, totalling about €3.4 million. The working group's report noted that the current bodies do not have enough resources to meet their existing obligations. On "Morning Ireland" earlier this week the Minister for Justice and Equality indicated that with the merger there would be immediate savings of €500,000, which is welcome because it could go towards the work, but will the Leader ask the Minister from where those savings will come and how we will recover the €4 million that has been lost by the two bodies to allow the body be effective in its first year? It must be effective in its first year to be declared independent in terms of the Paris Principles. Given that we are still seeking a seat on the Human Rights Council the Minister should be able to answer these questions sooner rather than later.