Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the context of his commitment to reform, if he will consider setting up a unit within his Department with responsibility for integrating equality horizontally across all Departments with regards to public expenditure decisions. [3072/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Programme for Government contains a clear commitment that all public bodies would take due note of equality and human rights in carrying out their functions. The State and its bodies must, of course, comply with all provisions of equality legislation in the development and delivery of policies and services.

When focusing on the primary objectives of reducing the deficit and returning sustainability to the public finances, it has been of vital importance to the Government to spread the burden of the adjustments in as fair and equitable a manner as possible, while also seeking to minimise their negative impact on economic growth. The Government must ensure that the available resources are spent in the best possible way and that critical services continue to be delivered.

On a Departmental level, it is the responsibility of individual Ministers and their officials to manage expenditure whilst also ensuring that appropriate consideration is given to matters of equality.