Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
41. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way that his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit met their obligations under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 in 2021, including the way that relevant policies and actions are monitored and the way that the obligation is reflected in their annual reports. [41367/22]
View answerPublic bodies’ statutory duty to eliminate discrimination, promote equality, and protect human rights of staff and service users is the responsibility of all Departments and other public bodies individually. My Department includes Offices such as the Companies Registration Office, the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland, the Labour Court, the Registry of Friendly Societies and the Workplace Relations Commission.
Goal 6 of my Department’s Statement of Strategy 2021 to 2023 sets out the Department’s ambition for a strong public service ethos driving effective and responsible policy implementation, including a commitment to ensuring our compliance with obligations under Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. A dedicated team with representatives from each Division has been formed to progress the implementation of the Public Services Human Rights and Equality Duty.
Examples of my Department’s work in the area of Human Rights and Equality include the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), the independent body which investigates or mediates complaints of discrimination.
My Department also ensures that employment rights are upheld and strengthened, and champions the principle of businesses operating responsibly. We lead on the Government’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda and support the business led voluntary CSR Stakeholder Forum. Diversity and Inclusion is a principal theme of the Forum’s work programme.
My Department is currently developing an Equality, Diversity & Inclusion strategy in consultation with staff which will detail the actions required to advance the Department’s E,D&I objectives over the next three years. Earlier this year we commenced Inclusive leadership training for senior managers and this will be rolled out to all staff in the coming months.
In addition, my Department is represented on the Steering Groups for the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024 and is progressing a range of actions under these strategies to promote the inclusion of people with a disability in the workforce.
