Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Mar 1992

Vol. 416 No. 6

Written Answers. - Department Staff Equality.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

353 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the precise actions he intends to take now to promote equality within his Department in general and in particular to promote qualified women to higher posts within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

My Department is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and fully endorses and implements the guidelines for equality of opportunity drawn up for the Civil Service. The principles and practices of equality of opportunity are applied to the recruitment, placement, selection, career development and all other conditions of service of officers of the Department.

Recruitment to permanent posts in the Department is the responsibility of the Civil Service Commission. It may be of interest to the Deputy that the male/female ratio in appointments to the grade of Third Secretary, the recruitment grade to the diplomatic service, in the years 1987 to 1991 was as follows:

Year	Male	Female
1987	2	1
1988	0	0
1989	4	2
1990	11	4
1991	5	5

In recruiting staff to temporary clerical posts, the Department specifically ensures against discrimination on grounds of sex or marital status.

In its placement policy, the Department ensures that all male and female officers have an equal opportunity to undertake a full range of responsibilities and appointments to posts are made without discrimination on grounds of sex or marital status. In selecting officers for promotion, the Department assesses all candidates on the basis of merit and ensures it does not discriminate either directly or indirectly on grounds of sex or marital status.

The Department says particular attention to the circumstances of officers with family responsibilities and every effort is made to allow officers in such circumstances to reconcile their work with their domestic responsibilities. It is the Department's policy to facilitate staff who apply for special leave for urgent domestic reasons; the Department also makes every effort to facilitate job-sharing and career breaks.