Written answers

Tuesday, 17 May 2011

Department of Justice, Equality and Defence

Departmental Responsibilities

6:00 pm

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality, noting the move in March 2010 of the then Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform's equality (and human rights) briefs to the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, and the stated commitment of the then Minister and junior Minister in that new Department to expanding the human rights functions of that portfolio, the reason this brief is moving back to the Department of Justice and Equality; and his view of this in view of the inherent tension with that Department's responsibility for criminal justice measures. [7981/11]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to the protection of human rights and promotion of equality as is required under the Irish Constitution and the various International laws and treaties Ireland has signed and ratified including obligations from EU membership. All work of the Department in all areas will fully reflect and respect human rights principles.

Far from being a retrograde step, as implied in the Deputy's Question, I believe that the re-combining of functions in relation to our system of justice and policing, on the one hand, with equality and human rights functions, is a positive step and I look forward, as does Minister of State Lynch, to implementing a strong Programme of reform in these areas over the lifetime of this Government.

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