asked the Minister for Energy if he will state in respect of his own Department and each semi-State body for which he is responsible, whether the appointment of equality officers has been made; and, if not, when such appointments may be made.
Written Answers. - Appointment of Equality Officers.
553.
Responsibility for the implementation of equality of opportunity policy in my Department and in the semi-State bodies under my aegis has been assigned to designated officers.
554.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will state in respect of his own Department and each semi-State body for which he is responsible, whether the appointment of equality officers has been made; and, if not, when such appointments may be made.
As appropriate arrangements already exist for consideration of issues relating to equality within my Department, a specially designated officer has not been appointed. However, equality issues are of course dealt with as part of the personnel function. The same considerations apply in the Agency for Personal Services Overseas (APSO) which is the only State-sponsored organisation under the aegis of my Department and which has a staff of only 15.
555.
asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he will state in respect of his Department and each semi-State body for which he is responsible, whether the appointment of equality officers has been made; and, if not, when such appointments may be made.
Seven of the semi-State bodies for which I am responsible have assigned particular officers in the personnel areas of their organisations to take charge of equality matters. In the remainder, and in my Department, such matters are among the functions looked after by the personnel sections. It should be pointed out that the scope for implementing the Government's equality policy is limited in a number of the semi-State bodies, either because they are very small or because they are engaged in a heavy manufacturing process. I shall continue to monitor the situation.