Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
813. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department, and public bodies and agencies under her remit, have an anti-racism policy which can be accessed by the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27681/23]
View answerThe Department has not published a formal anti-racism policy; neither have the Citizens Information Board or the Pensions Authority, both of which operate under the aegis of my Department.
However, the Department has published a Customer Charter which can be accessed at gov.ie - Customer Charter and Customer Action Plan (www.gov.ie).
The Citizens Information Board has published a Citizen’s Information Customer Service Action Plan and Customer Service Charter which can be accessed at Customer Service Action Plan 2018 - Citizens Information Board (www.citizensinformationboard.ie/en/about/customer_service/); and, the Pension Authority has publish a Code of Business Conduct which can be accessed at The Pensions Authority - Code of Business Conduct (www.pensionsauthority.ie/en/about_us/the_pensions_authority/code_of_business_conduct/).
The Department’s Customer Charter sets out the commitments the Department makes to all customers when they visit or engage with it. The first key commitment is that all customers are treated with courtesy and respect.
The Department Customer Charter is currently being updated to ensure that all customers continue to feel valued and respected in the course of their business with Department staff and processes; a revised Customer Charter will be published over the coming period.
The Citizens Information Customer Service Charter states that its officials will respect diversity and ensure your right to equal treatment.
The Pension’s Authority Code of business conduct states that the Authority will not accept discrimination of any form, including on the grounds of race, and that all employees and members of the Authority must avoid any practice or conduct which amount to discrimination or harassment of any kind.
Department officials also receive training in customer service best practice and, in inclusion and diversity awareness.
My colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., published the National Action Plan Against Racism on 21st March 2023 which outlines a series of cross-government actions to counter racism and to promote inclusion. My Department will work with the other Departments and Agencies to deliver on the actions contained in this Plan which is available at gov.ie - National Action Plan Against Racism (www.gov.ie)
In early 2023, my Department established an internal team to consider the subject of anti-racism-discrimination supports for staff as part of its broader ‘Engagement and Innovation’ programme. The project team will research the subject in detail over the coming months with a view to bringing forward a Final Report and a set of targeted recommendations for further consideration by the Department Management Board.
