Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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122. To ask the Minister for Finance the actions that his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department are taking to increase recruitment of members of the LGBTQIA+ communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38408/22]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department continually seeks to grow its people and enhance its culture to deliver an inclusive place to work and an environment where talented people are engaged, valued and choose to work to provide a world class service and expertise to the State.

Recruitment to the Department and wider Civil Service is managed centrally by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). As such, recruitment policies on increasing representation of the LGBTQIA+ communities are determined in the first instance by PAS and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

The standards for recruitment and selection for the Department/Civil Service are set by the Commission on Public Service Appointments (CPSA). PAS is tasked with carrying out external requirements from Clerical Officer through to Principal Officer level, and PAS also administer any TLAC recruitment needs. It should be noted that recruitment is merit based and for external recruitment (i.e. open and interdepartmental) the Department has no choice on whether the candidate is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, as we are allocated the next candidate on the panel.