Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 October 2023
64. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if his Department, or any body under the aegis of his Department, has facilitated in-person or remote briefings on any issue from organisations (details supplied) from 2021 to date; if so, the topic discussed; the fees paid to the organisations for these briefings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46752/23]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has not hosted in person or remote briefings on issues from the organisations Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) and BelongTo.
The Department of Finance has had a number of staff partake in a Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) talk on 'Gender Pronouns' hosted by BelongTo on 21st of June 2022 in conjunction with PRIDE Week.
Those bodies under the aegis of my Department who have facilitated briefings from TENI or BelongTo have advised as follows:
BelongTo and TENI provided briefings to the Central Bank of Ireland and the Investor Compensation Company DAC; no fee was paid for any of these briefings:
2021
•BelongTo presentation on ‘How to be an ally’ as part of launch of Allyship programme
•BelongTo contributor as part of a Pride 2021 event titled: #ProudToWorkForIreland
•TENI speaker at the event to mark the launch of Pride 2021 and Gender Identity & Expression in the Workplace policy and toolkit
•TENI facilitator of Gender Identity & Expression Awareness briefing to staff to align with our Gender Identity & Expression in the Workplace policy and toolkit
2022
•TENI facilitator of Gender Identity & Expression Awareness briefing to staff to align with our Gender Identity & Expression in the Workplace policy and toolkit.
•TENI contributor to Central Bank ‘What Pride Means to Me’ video for Pride 2022
2023
•TENI contributor to PRIDE 2023 event ‘Taking Pride in our Mental Health’ alongside internal Executive and Senior Leaders and keynote from Minister Mary Butler TD.
The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) Corporate Strategy, which is reviewed and updated on an annual basis, contains targets and deliverables to reflect progress on key projects and initiatives, including in the area of inclusion and diversity (Gender Matters, Disability Advocacy, LGBT+, and International and Multicultural Awareness). The NTMA provides business and support services and systems to Home Building Finance Ireland, the National Asset Management Agency and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland; HR services are one such service provided to these bodies.
The NTMA had one session in 2021:
•TENI provided a remote information session on NTMA Workplace Gender Transition Guidelines and NTMA Gender Identity & Expression Policy. A fee of €4,000 (excluding VAT) was paid for assistance in the development of the NTMA Policy and Guidelines, and the provision of an information presentation to NTMA staff.
BelongTo provided briefings to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners in 2022 and 2023:
2022
•BelongTo: (Two events) This information session provided an opportunity for Revenue staff to learn about the lived experience of LGBTQ+ young people today in Ireland. A fee of €1,000 (excluding VAT) was paid.
2023
•BelongTo: (One event) This information session provided an opportunity for Revenue staff to learn about the lived experience of LGBTQ+ young people today in Ireland. A fee of €1,000 (excluding VAT) was paid.
