Vol. 562 No. 1
160 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the recent call made by the Equality Authority for the recruitment of members of minority ethnic groups to the public service; the steps he intends to take to facilitate such a recruitment programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5361/03]
The Deputy is referring to Building an Intercultural Society which was launched by the Equality Authority in December 2002. Recommendation 18 of the report requests organisations to consider actively recruiting staff from black and minority ethnic groups within the public service. The equality unit in my Department has responsibility for equality issues in general in the Civil Service. The attention of the unit has been drawn to the recommendation of the Equality Authority.
Civil Service policy in this area is set out in Diversity in the Civil Service, a policy on equality of opportunity covering all nine grounds under the Employment Equality Act 1998, which I launched in July 2002.
In accordance with the Employment Equality Act 1998 and best human resource practice, the policy firmly commits the Civil Service to ensuring equality of opportunity across all the human resource management areas, including recruitment, for all members of our society.
Question No. 161 answered with Question No. 124.
