Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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361. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department purchased or produced any memorabilia such as pens, stationery, pins, badges, mugs or other types of souvenirs to mark or celebrate Pride 2023; if so, the costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31803/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to promoting and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees and values each person both for who they are and what they contribute to the work of the Department.

My Department's currentStatement of Strategy 2021-2024sets out as one of our core values "A strong commitment to diversity, inclusion and the fair and equal treatment of all". My Department’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Policy, which was launched in 2018, embraces our values in these areas.

I am proud to say that a number of staff from my Department, including the Secretary General and members of the Management Board joined with colleagues from across the Civil and Public service in the celebration of Pride in Dublin on Saturday 24 June last.

To celebrate the month of Pride, my Department arranged the installation of banners and decorations at six of our buildings nationwide including; Agriculture House, Backweston, Cavan, Clonakilty, Portlaoise and Johnstown Castle.

The celebration of Pride and our LGBT+ colleagues and the wider LGBT+ community sends out a strong message of inclusion to our customers and stakeholders and reinforces our commitment to maintaining and supporting a diverse and inclusive workplace for our people.

I can confirm that no costs were incurred in 2023 in the purchase of memorabilia as outlined above as part of my Department's celebration of Pride. I understand that a number of T Shirts were purchased in 2022 for staff participating in Pride and these T Shirts were used by staff who participated in this year's Pride Parade. The total costs incurred by my Department for the purchase of T Shirts in 2022 was €425.74.