asked the Minister for External Affairs what is the attitude of the Government with regard to Opinion No. 38 on the Budget of the Council of Europe for 1964, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 10th May 1963; and what action the Government have taken or contemplate taking on it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Budget of Council of Europe.
22.
The Government note that the draft 1964 Budget for the Consultative Assembly, as formulated in Opinion No. 38, shows an increase of about 4 per cent on the figures for 1963.
In addition, the Assembly has proposed, among other recommendations, extra staff, the institution of staff regulations and the establishment of a pension scheme for members of the secretariat.
The Opinion has been referred to the Budget Committee for its observations and, in the light of that Committee's report, a final decision will be taken by the Committee of Ministers. While we support the various appropriations in the Opinion it is hoped that means will be found to keep expenditure to a level not significantly higher than that of the current year, without curtailing any essential activities of the Assembly.