Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
83. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on introducing equality impact assessment procedures and equality proofing into the Irish budgetary process as a means of gauging the impact of budgetary measures from a human rights and equality perspective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45977/13]
View answerThe Government Programme includes a commitment to "require all public bodies to take due note of equality and human rights in carrying out their functions". The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill, which I expect will be published shortly, will create a positive duty on public bodies to do so and provides for the Commission to provide support and advice to public bodies in meeting that obligation.
I also refer the Deputy to the Government's position on this matter as set out in Minister of State Kathleen Lynch's statement to the Dáil on 2 July 2013 in the context of the debate on a Private Members Bill on this topic, the Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2013 as well as to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 33 of 25 September 2013. In our democratic State, budgetary decisions are for the democratically-elected Government of the day to make and for Dáil Éireann to approve. The reality is that resources are limited and additional expenditure demands or costs arising, for whatever reason, will have to be paid for through expenditure reductions elsewhere or through the raising of additional revenue. Nothing in the approach canvassed can change that reality or be of any help to the Government in making the difficult decisions its members have been elected to make on behalf of the people as we work to restore the country's economic sovereignty.
In the context of budgetary policy and the preparation of estimates, each Minister is responsible for assessing policy proposals in his or her area. Considerations of equality form an important component of budgetary discussions by Government. When making Government decisions on budget matters, the Government is very much aware of issues such as gender equality, persons experiencing risk of poverty or social exclusion, and people with disabilities.
