Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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197. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has complied with section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, which requires her Department to set out, in a manner that is accessible to the public in its strategic plan, an assessment of the human rights and equality issues it views to be relevant to the functions and purpose of her Department; and the policies, plans and actions in place or proposed to be put in place to address those issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1762/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 outlines a positive duty on public bodies to have regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, promote equality and protect the human rights of staff and the persons to whom services are provided. It also requires public bodies to carry out an assessment of the human rights and equality issues relevant to their functions and purpose and to set out the policies, plans and actions in place or proposed to be put in place to address those issues.

My Department's Strategy Statement for 2016-2019 was recently approved by Government and will be published shortly. It sets out the Department's approach to this duty and a commitment to carry out an assessment of the human rights and equality issues relevant to the functions and purpose of the Department and the policies, plans and actions which will be put in place, including training and information for staff on human rights and equality as part of the training cycle.