My Department, in line with the rest of the Civil Service, actively supports diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all staff.
Recent measures taken to promote diversity and inclusion in my Department include:
- Participation in AHEAD’s Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme, a graduate internship opportunity for persons with a disability;
- Participation in the North East Inner City Flash Mentoring Programme which provides students from 6 inner city schools with a series of short, low pressure, one-time meetings with a range of experienced professionals;
- Participation by staff of my Department in the Civil Service Women’s Network;
- Participation in Events Being Run by the Public Service for Staff during Pride Month 2021;
- Implementation of Gender Balance measures linked to talent management opportunities, supporting staff returning from maternity leave and promoting work life balance;
- Presentation to Departmental staff by the National Disability Authority on International Day of People with Disabilities to raise awareness of Disability at Work;
- Attendance by Human Resources staff at relevant conferences covering diversity and inclusion topics;
- Progressing my Department’s well-being programme which provides staff with a regular platform to input into measures and activities to help shape an inclusive and supportive workplace; and
- Unconscious bias training as part of interview board training for internal promotion competitions, delivered by Carr Communications at a cost of €1,300 in 2018, €2,600 in 2019, €650 in 2020, €650 in 2021, and €650 to date in 2022.