Ms Anna Shakespeare:

The Senator asked, as public sector agencies, what would, can and does work? While Pobal is not a public sector agencyper se, we are on the register of public bodies. We have an employment rate of 6% of individuals with a disability. We have implemented a whole-of-organisation approach towards mental health first aid so it is okay not to be okay, and putting supports around that. All our workplaces are accessible. Regardless of your disability, if you have a physical disability, your workplace is accessible to you. We have made reasonable accommodations in access to work stations and work environments for individuals with a disability. We have the Excellence Through People approach which stretches us year-on-year to become an inclusive employer of choice.

Dr. Hartney referenced the public sector duty in the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. The assessment will then dictate how we address it and your action plan then forms what you will do, not only to hit that minimum target of 6% but to build and grow it and create a culture in a workplace where it is okay to disclose the fact that you have a disability and to feel comfortable that you will not be discriminated against because you might have a disability. That requires an organisation to develop, disseminate and communicate its inclusive recruitment approach. For example, most recently, in a Pobal context, we broadened our recruitment to include individuals who might have a criminal conviction. We have had individuals with disabilities welcomed in our workplace. It is about being inclusive and creating that culture right across the organisation.