Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality with reference to the public service reform document published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on 17 November 2011, Appendix IIa, Bodies to be rationalised, Amalgamated or Abolished in 2012, the progress that has been made on those bodies; the changes that require legislation; the expected timeframe for conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4291/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the radical streamlining of State bodies is a key deliverable of the Public Services Reform Plan, published in November 2011. This streamlining included the rationalisation of 48 bodies by the end of 2012, as listed in Appendix IIa to the Reform Plan. On 31 October 2012, my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, announced an update in relation to the programme of rationalisation of State bodies.

With regard to State bodies under the aegis of my own Department, the bodies which are to be rationalised, amalgamated or abolished in 2012 are as follows:

Equality Tribunal (Rationalise the industrial relations/employee rights institutions - Labour Court, Labour Relations Commission, Employee Appeals Tribunal, National Employment Rights Authority and Equality Tribunal into single agency). This overall rationalisation of industrial relations institutions is being lead by my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The General Scheme of a Bill to provide for this measure has been approved by Government. Administrative responsibility for the Equality Tribunal transferred to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation from 1 January 2013.

Equality Authority, Human Rights Commission (Merge to form new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission). I published the General Scheme of a Bill to replace the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission with a new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission on 5 June 2012. The Bill is currently being drafted. In parallel, a selection process is currently in relation to the membership of the new Commission is underway. It is intended to appoint the successful applicants to the two existing bodies as an interim step, pending enactment of the legislation.