Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
575. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action his Department has taken to honour the programme for Government pledge to ensure that Government Departments and public bodies take positive steps, including the use of correct pronouns and, where possible, making improvements on official forms, to assist non-binary people. [35832/23]
View answerMy Department is committed to serving our customers, stakeholders and staff properly, fairly, impartially and with courtesy. This includes ensuring accommodating diversity and ensuring that rights to equal treatment established by equality legislation are upheld in the delivery of our services.
My Department also complies with all central legislation, policy and guidance in relation to equality of opportunity in all of our engagements.
Diversity is encouraged and facilitated in my Department to ensure its composition is reflective of Irish society as a whole. It is supported by the Department's HR Strategy through its goal of ‘enhancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.’
My Department is aware of its obligations under the Equal Status Acts to promote equality and prevent discrimination. My Department fully supports the National Action Plan Against Racism 2023-2027, which was published by my colleague the Minister of State for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien, in March 2023.
However, as I understand matters relating to gender recognition fall under the remit of my colleague Heather Humphreys, T.D., Minister for Social Protection.
