Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

133. To ask the Taoiseach the way in which his Department and agencies under his remit are working towards enabling access to employment for persons from minority and or disadvantaged communities, including, but not limited to, persons with disabilities, persons from ethnic minorities, Travellers and Mincéirí. [32830/21]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) - the only body under my Department's aegis - actively support diversity and inclusion in the workplace and recognise the importance of a workforce that is inclusive of persons from diverse backgrounds and reflective of Irish society.

Recruitment to my Department and NESDO is, in the main, undertaken through the Public Appointments Service who plays a central role in recruiting diverse talent to take up public service employment opportunities and who recently launched their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy 2021-2023.

Recent measures taken to promote diversity and inclusion include:

- Participation in AHEAD’s Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme, a graduate internship opportunity for persons with a disability;

- Participation in the North East Inner City Flash Mentoring Programme which provides students from 6 inner city schools with a series of short, low pressure, one-time meetings with a range of experienced professionals;

- Participation by staff of my Department in the Civil Service Women’s Network;

- Participation in Events Being Run by the Public Service for Staff during Pride Month 2021;

- Implementation of Gender Balance measures linked to talent management opportunities, supporting staff returning from maternity leave and promoting work life balance; and

- Progressing my Department’s well-being programme which provides staff with a regular platform to input into measures and activities to help shape an inclusive and supportive workplace.