Anti-Racism Measures

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2014

Tuesday, 24 June 2014

Questions (241)

Willie Penrose

Question:

241. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the survey on racism undertaken by the Public Service Executive Union which revealed that 61% of respondents do not know if their employer has an equality policy with a specific anti-racism component, 68% report that their employers' policies are not well known at all, 3.5% report being the subject of discrimination in the workplace based on race, 4.5% report witnessing a colleague being the subject of discrimination in the workplace based on race, 7% report witnessing a client or customer being subjected to racist remarks or behaviour, 26% witnessed racist remarks by colleagues about clients or customers, 60% do not know if their Department offers training dealing with anti-racism and intercultural issues, and 20% report having been offered training to deal with anti-racism and inter-cultural issues; if his attention has been drawn to any guidance issued by the union to its members to counter incidences of racist behaviour in the workplace; and the steps, if any, his Department will take to address the issue highlighted in the PSEU survey. [27398/14]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I am aware of the PSEU Survey on anti racism and inter-culturalism in the Civil Service which was carried out in 2012. As an employer, the Civil Service is strongly committed to equality of opportunity in all its employment practices.  My Department has  produced a Diversity Policy for the Civil Service entitled 'Diversity in the Civil Service - A Policy on Equality of Opportunity'.  This policy aims to ensure that all Government Departments are aware of their responsibilities, in particular under the Equality Acts and Equal Status Acts, and sets out that equality of opportunity means that, in employment, no-one will receive less favourable treatment than someone else on a number of grounds including race.  It also set out that it means creating a working environment in which differences are respected and in which people - staff, clients and customers - are valued as individuals.

  The Head of each Civil Service organisation has responsibility for the effective implementation of the Policy.  As evidenced by the PSEU survey, many Departments have taken initiatives in the area of anti-racism including training programmes which have components related to anti-racism measures. In addition, officials from my Department meet with the Civil Service Unions through the Equality sub committee of General Council on a regular basis.  This sub committee discusses a broad range of matters relating to equality and diversity.