Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether he gave proper consideration to the implications of his funding cuts to the independence and effectiveness of the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission under European standards and directives when he chose to make them. [21504/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The context in which financial provisions have been made by the Government for the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission is with regard to the current exceptional circumstances in relation to public expenditure and the need for substantial savings. The EU has no competence in relation to national budgetary decisions. The Council of Ministers explicitly recognised that the provision of necessary financial and human resources to specialised equality bodies has to have regard to national budgetary constraints.