Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to widen the consultation process concerning the merger of the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission, beyond the current boards of both bodies to allow wider civil society stakeholder groups to contribute their views to this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24734/11]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the way the new entity that emerges as a result of the merging of the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission will be funded; if decisions have been made on the level of funding; if not, when this decision will be taken; the timeline for the completion of the merger; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24966/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 403 together.

Following the decision in principle by Government to merge the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority into a new Human Rights and Equality Commission in order to enhance the protection of human rights and the promotion of equality, I intend to appoint a small working group to advise me on how best the decision can be implemented.

The working group will be drawn from members of the Commission, the Authority and my Department's staff.

The process will also be informed by recent studies of the equality and human rights bodies commissioned by my Department, in which a broad range of stakeholder groups were consulted.

I intend that the necessary legislation for the new Commission will be in place by February 2012.