Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 405: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a security licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35601/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Private Security Authority is the regulatory body with responsibility for the regulation and licensing of the security industry in Ireland. The Authority is an independent body under the aegis of my Department and so I have no involvement in the processing of private security licences. However, I understand that the Authority will be in touch with the individual concerned in an effort to resolve this matter.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 406: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to close any agencies or bodies connected to his Department; the reasons for these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35643/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to the Public Service Reform Plan published by the Government on 17 November 2011 - this may be accessed via www.per.gov.ie. This deals, inter alia, with the rationalisation of State Agencies. In so far as my Department is concerned, it is proposed to merge the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission to form a new Human Rights and Equality Commission. The purpose of this change is to promote human rights and equality issues in a more effective, efficient and cohesive way.

It is also proposed to merge the Equality Tribunal into a single agency under the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation along with the Labour Court, Labour Relations Commission, Employment Appeals Tribunal and National Employment Rights Authority. The rationale for this is that the overwhelming majority of cases that come before the Equality Tribunal relate to employment matters.