Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
809. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has a diversity and inclusion policy in place; the measures taken to promote diversity and inclusion from 1 January 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11824/20]
View answerThe Treaties of the European Union, European Charter of Fundamental Rights and Employment Equality Directive, guarantee the right to equality and non-discrimination and there are nine grounds (Gender, Marital Status, Family Status, Age, Disability, Race, Sexual Orientation, Religious Belief, Membership of the Traveller Community) for discrimination under legislation in this State.
In line with goals and outcomes identified in the People Strategy for the Civil Service 2017/2020, my Department is committed to ensuring a working environment that is fair, transparent and equitable to every member of staff and the customers it serves regardless of individual characteristics and differences. Diversity and inclusion is integral to the Department's policies both with respect to the services it offers to its clients and in its internal policies and procedures.
This Department is actively implementing its HR policies so as to ensure our staff enjoy a positive working environment through the provision of awareness, education and support for managers and also putting in place the resources and support for staff to attain their maximum career potential by the provision of equal opportunities in the areas of mobility, learning and development programmes, promotion and staff engagement. The Department's human resources (HR) unit has established a dedicated diversity and inclusion functional unit to develop supports and initiatives across the Department's business area.
In the area of disability the Department has a full-time Disability Liaison Officer to provide the necessary workplace accommodation and other relevant supports for people with disabilities employed in the Department and to ensure that it meets its obligations under the Disability Act, 2005. The Department has recently reported on an employment rate of 6.96% in 2019, for people employed in the organisation who have declared a disability, far exceeding the employment target of 3% across the Civil Service.
The Department's recruitment processes, in collaboration with the Public Appointments Service, and internal promotional competition processes are in line with the Commission for Public Service Appointment's codes of practice ensuring equity, fairness, equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion for all applicants.
In 2019, as a strategic programme under the its Engagement and Innovation staff initiative the Department, together with its staff, developed an internal LGBT+ network to promote awareness and education in this area, ensuring staff feel comfortable in their working environment irrespective of gender identity or sexual orientation. The network, supported by HR, has delivered outcomes for staff including information guides, e-learning opportunities and celebration of Pride 2020 across the Department. The Department is also a member of a cross-departmental LGBT+ network established in 2020.
My Department integrates diversity and inclusion in its learning and development programmes for all staff, including disability, dignity and work and inclusion modules as part of its induction and customer service programme for all new entrants. The Department's QQI accredited learning programmes in partnership with National College of Ireland, aimed at staff in front-line roles, incudes a specific focus on diversity and inclusion.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
