Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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539. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department has produced a new statement of strategy since May 2016; and if so, the measures in it to support persons with disabilities. [33629/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department has recently prepared a draft Strategy Statement 2016 - 2019 for the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. A key focus of the Strategy Statement is to ensure that the Defence Organisation retains the capacity to meet its high level goal and to fulfil all roles assigned by Government in the White Paper on Defence 2015. The White Paper sets out a comprehensive policy framework for the next decade and this has been a key factor in driving the identification of priorities over the period of the Strategy Statement. Having regard to section 42(2) of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, the human rights and equality issues that are relevant to the performance of functions of the Department of Defence have been considered in the preparation of the Strategy Statement.

In compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005, the Department of Defence, where practicable, promotes and supports the employment of people with disabilities. It abides by the principles and standards set out in the Code of Practice for the employment of people with disability in the Irish Civil Service by taking measures which include the appointment of an Access Officer, A Disability Liaison Officer, the provision of workplace accommodation for staff with disabilities on request, and by promoting disability awareness within the Department.