Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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613. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way her Department and public bodies and agencies under her remit fulfil their obligations under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34860/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is strongly committed in its work to promote equality, prevent discrimination and to protect the human rights of employees, customers, service users and everyone affected by our policies and strategies, in recognition of the legal obligations conferred on it by section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act, 2014.

All internal and external stakeholders can be confident that their rights under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014 are guaranteed and that no one will receive less favourable treatment by my Department because of gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller community.

There are 4 agencies under the aegis of my Department: the Charities Regulatory Authority, Pobal, Water Safety Ireland, and the Western Development Commission. Obligations under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014are a matter for the relevant boards and management of those agencies as they are independent entities who manage their own corporate compliance and staffing issues.