Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
980. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health 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. [40234/23]
View answerThe LGBTI+ Strategy is a whole of Government approach to addressing the needs of LGBTI+ people. The Strategy is led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. It involves all Government Departments and many public agencies. The Department of Health and the HSE are fully committed to the delivery of the actions within this Strategy, and report on our actions quarterly to the strategy's steering committee, chaired by Minister O'Gorman.
Equality, diversity and inclusion is a core feature of the Department HR Strategy 2023-2025. As part of the key priority focus “Promoting a positive and including workplace culture”, the Department commits to continue to invest in and extend the programme of work in the areas of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion by promoting greater understanding of and engagement with EDI matters through events, training, and regular communications, while also promoting initiatives aimed at integrating EDI into the workplace and processes.
The Department has established an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Working Group to improving awareness and support of EDI matters through various events, training, and communications. Specific information sessions with Pride at Work by Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride and BelongTo were held in 2022 and 2023 to promote LGBTI+ awareness and expertise. Members of the EDI Working Group, alongside colleagues in the Department and across the Civil and Public Service, participated in the Dublin Pride Parade in 2022 and in 2023.
In addition, the EDI Working Group has worked on promoting events and initiatives taking place across the wider Civil Service throughout Pride Month in June, including LGBTQ+ webinars hosted through OneLearning. Members of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group also represent the Department in the wider Civil Service LGBT+ Network, attending meetings of the network and promoting its initiatives.
The HSE National Social Inclusion Office has also promoted existing HSE LGBTI+ training amongst HSE staff and staff from funded services, as part of the Training/Resource needs analysis carried out during Pride month in June this year.
The Department will continue to engage with staff and other stakeholders to implement the LGBTI+ Strategy.
