Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Key people in our work towards equality, diversity and inclusion

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) officer

Our EDI officer, Roisin Deery, identifies actions to be taken to address inequality on any of the grounds set out in the Employment Equality Act 1998-2015 of age, race, sexual orientation, disability, religion, civil status, gender, membership of the Traveller community, civil status and family status. The EDI officer supports the work of the Houses of the Oireachtas to meet its obligations under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. The EDI officer works with the access officer and disability liaison officer to support their roles.

Access officer

Our access officer, Michael O'Brien, is on hand to arrange assistance and guidance to people with disabilities who wish to access our services or visit Leinster House. The access officer is available in accordance with section 26(2) of the Disability Act 2005.

Disability liaison officer (DLO)

Our disability liaison officer (DLO) acts as the point of contact for staff with disabilities, their managers and personnel units. She assists and supports staff with disabilities, in confidence, and their line managers by providing necessary information, appropriate contacts, guidance, suggestions and advice. She also assists in the implementation of best human resource practices in line with equality legislation and facilitates increased awareness of disability throughout the organisation.

Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreters

During 2020 the Houses of the Oireachtas recruited two experienced ISL interpreters to carry out a number of tasks, including, but not limited to, interpreting content for Oireachtas TV, interpreting live debates in the Houses and Committees and supporting deaf visitors to the Houses and deaf staff members.

Oireachtas TV access liaison officer

As a national broadcaster, Oireachtas TV adheres to access rules agreed with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland regarding the levels of subtitling within our programmes. Our Oireachtas TV access liaison officer, Tim Clare, is on hand to answer questions about our ISL or subtitled programming.