Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the total cost savings envisaged by the amalgamation of the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority; the budget of the Human Rights Commission in 2011, the budget of the Equality Authority in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28147/12]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 495: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the additional powers to be given to the new merged body of the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28148/12]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 509: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of staff in the new merged body of the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority; the current number of staff in the Human Rights Commission; the total number of staff in the Equality Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28284/12]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 510: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality what the annual budget for the new merged body of the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28285/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 494, 495, 509 and 510 together.

My proposals in regard to powers and functions are set out in the General Scheme of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2012, which was published on 5 June and presented to the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality and to which I would refer the Deputy.

Currently, the Equality Authority has 33 staff members and the Human Rights Commission has 10 staff. Persons working with the two existing organisations on the day the new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission comes into being will transfer across and become its employees. As the Deputy will be aware the Working Group set up to advise me on practical issues in relation to the merger recommended that the new Commission as a priority initial task should undertake a review of its staffing needs to compile the evidence for a business case for any essential additional staff needs it may identify. While stressing the seriousness of the fiscal situation we face and the severe staffing constraints that apply across the public service, I want to reiterate my openness to have such a business case examined by my Department in as favourable a light as will be possible. The annual financial allocation for the new body will fall to be determined in the light of the Budget for the relevant years and will be announced in that context in due course.