Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
239. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide details on the measures his Department has taken to implement specific action points (details supplied) of the action plan to support the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021. [40229/23]
View answerIn respect of the actions set out in the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 and the specific action points referred to by the Deputy, I have set out below some of the activities that my Department has undertaken and is in the process of implementing.
In October 2021, the Department’s People Strategy 2021-2024 was launched. Goal 3 of the Strategy aims to “Build an Inclusive and Supportive Workplace”. A key element required to achieve this objective is enhancement of the Department’s approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I). This is in line with the Department’s obligations as a public body under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act, 2014 and the Civil Service Renewal 2024 Action Plan. It is also a key tenant of our efforts to become an Employer of Choice.
As part of the Department's Learning and Career Development offering, my Department has over recent years managed a diverse programme of events to support learning and awareness particularly around LGBTI+ issues, including information sessions hosted by Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) which focused primarily on gender expression, and "How to be an Ally" hosted by the then Department of Justice and Equality, focusing on supporting the equal civil rights and gender equality of members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The Department's LGBTQIA+ staff-led network, ‘Pride in Enterprise’, held its inaugural meeting on the 1st of May 2019 and meets quarterly every year. The Network is for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies alike and is an avenue of support to colleagues in the Department who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as LGBTQIA+ allies, including parents who work in the Department whose children may be members of the Community. The network, with the support of my Department, organises regular events including representation at the annual Pride parade. The network is also actively connected to other LGBTQIA+ networks in other Departments.
More broadly, in February 2023 my Department published its first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion statement, which sets out the principles we work by, and the actions we undertake, to ensure compliance with this legislation and ensure we are promoting equality, diversity and inclusion as an employer and public body.
Work is currently underway to develop the Department’s ED&I Strategy which will detail the actions required to advance the Department’s ED&I objectives over the next three to four years. The strategy will set out a coherent structure and direction for my Department’s approach to ED&I, including broadening our focus on diversity across all nine grounds covered by equality legislation including sexual orientation.
The Department is an equal opportunities employer and will continue to drive equality, inclusion and diversity through the embedding of the above actions and the creation of new actions through its ED&I policy.
My Department also offers self-guided eLearning on “Equality and Human Rights in the Public Service” created by The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Through its training and education offerings my Department remains committed to promoting inclusion, acceptance and awareness of the LGBTQIA+ community as it continues to drive its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion agenda.
