Alliance Wants Answers from Justice Minister
Equality & Rights Alliance (ERA) said that it was looking for straight answers on Ireland’s equality and rights crisis from Dermot Ahern TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Minister is expected to face questions tomorrow from opposition spokespeople on the dismantling of the equality and human rights infrastructure.
Equality and rights merger will turn active agencies into a talking shop
Equality & Rights Alliance (ERA) warned against indications that the Government may merge the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission. Launching its position paper, Tearing Down is Easier than Rebuilding, ERA said that a single equality and rights body could find itself troubled by inertia and internal disagreement, making it bad value for money.
Call time on agenda to silence equality and rights bodies
Equality & Rights Alliance looks for straight answer on real agenda behind budget cuts as it starts WAKE UP campaign Equality & Rights Alliance (ERA) today urged the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform to WAKE UP AND CALL TIME on the budgetary cuts to The Equality Authority and the Irish Human Right Commission, saying that there was much more to the budget action than a financial agenda.
No Merger but Savage Cuts Undermine Equality and Rights Protection Says Alliance
Equality & Rights Alliance (ERA) welcomes the budget announcement that the equality and rights bodies will share back office and administrative services instead of being fully merged as originally proposed. However, savage budget cuts of 43% for the Equality Authority and 24% for the Human Rights Commission totally undermines the protection of equality and rights for everyone, but particularly the most vulnerable in society, it stated.
Alliance Concerned at Plans to Review Equality and Rights Functions
Equality & Rights Alliance (ERA) had a mixed reaction to the budget announcement about the streamlining of the equality and rights bodies. It welcomed the announcement that the bodies will share corporate and administrative services as the best way to make savings. It expressed concern, however, that the Government plans to look at further co-operation in specific functions and services such as inquiries or cases (tbc).