Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 October 2023
78. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [46750/23]
View answerAs part of my Department’s Pride awareness campaign in 2021, my Department's Learning and Career Development Unit facilitated an informal Lunch and Learn session which was hosted virtually by Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) and focussed primarily on gender expression and identity. There was no fee paid to the Organisation for this session.
IDA Ireland’s EDI Team have not engaged with TENI for sessions (either in-person or virtual) since 2021. Prior to 2021, the EDI Team sought advice from TENI relating to its Gender Identity and Expression Policy, which they provided without fees.
IDA Ireland’s EDI Team engaged with BelongTo in H1 2022 for its Pride & Inclusion event which took place in June 2022. BelongTo’s Partnerships and Engagement Manager participated as a panel member in a virtual, pre-recorded discussion to examine Allyship and Inclusion in 2022, and how while Pride is a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, it is also a time to reflect on how more can be done. The Partnerships and Engagement Manager also attended the in-person airing of the session and answered Questions from the audience live, on the day. The session was aired in Dublin, North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
BelongTo’s fee for that engagement was €500.
