Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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46. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide information on the number of persons of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds currently working in his Department and in other public service organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter [19562/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department does not collect data pertaining to the ethnic and cultural background of staff. However, the Civil Service is strongly committed to equality of opportunity in all its employment practices. As an employer, the Civil Service must fulfil its obligations under equality legislation, particularly the Employment Equality Act 1998. While recognising that people are different, our employment practices ensure that these differences do not lead to unlawful discrimination in the workplace.

As an employer, my Department strives to achieve real equality of opportunity by continuously monitoring its employment practices to ensure compliance with the relevant legislation.