Donal Carey
Question:47 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has completed the policy review of equal opportunities for staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23720/99]
Written Answers. - Equal Opportunity Policy.
The officials in my Department, in partnership with the Civil Service unions, are in the process of drafting a new equal opportunity policy for the Civil Service which will reflect the provisions of the Employment Equality Act, 1998. The new Act extends the prohibition on discrimination in employment to nine grounds: gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, disability, race and membership of the traveller community. Work on drafting the new policy is at an advanced stage and should be completed shortly.
The current equal opportunity policy and guidelines were published in 1986 and were based on the legislation existing at that time. They were aimed at the elimination of discrimination on the basis of sex or marital status, as well as the promotion of equal opportunity between men and women. However, in the light of the recent report on gender imbalance at higher grades in the Civil Service, the Government has recently approved a package of measures to promote gender equality. A high-level management equality group has been established to develop a new gender equality policy and framework programme of affirmative action for the Civil Service, in accordance with the best standards of equal opportunity practices. Work is proceeding on the development of this new policy.