Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Taoiseach the progress made on the equality objectives of his Department specifically in relation to women. [11082/22]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department actively supports diversity and inclusion in its workplace including gender balance. As at 1 March 2022, the gender balance of staff in my Department (excluding politically appointed staff) is 64% female and 36% male. Of the 9 members on my Department’s Management Committee, 4 are female and 5 are male. The gender balance at Assistant Secretary level in my Department is 60% female and 40% male. My Department has a strong pipeline of future female leaders with 63% of its Principal Officers and 70% of its Assistant Principal Officers being female.

Recruitment to my Department 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 in my Department 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.