Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there has been a cut of 25% in the funding of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; if the Commission has been prohibited from receiving funding from Atlantic Philanthropy; that there is growing concern that the Commission will be unable to discharge its functions in relation to human rights under the Good Friday Agreement; and to ask that these issues be raised as a matter of urgency with the British Government [35937/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is a very important part of the institutional architecture of the Good Friday Agreement. It sends a clear message to all communities in Northern Ireland that their fundamental rights will be protected. I met most recently with Professor Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, in Dublin on 9 September. At that meeting, we discussed a number of issues relating to the work of the Commission, including proposed budget cuts in the context of the UK government's forthcoming comprehensive spending review. The question of funding from Atlantic Philanthropies was also raised. Atlantic Philanthropies have a strong track record of funding a range of initiatives in Ireland and in Northern Ireland relating to rights, social justice and reconciliation. When I met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson, on 19 September, I raised the concerns of the Commission in relation to budget cuts, and in relation to funding from Atlantic Philanthropies and expressed the hope that he could look again at this issue. I also underlined the importance that the Government attaches to the Commission and its ongoing work and responsibilities as an institution of the Good Friday Agreement. End of Take