Written answers
Wednesday, 12 July 2023
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Equality Issues
Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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98. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current status of Action 2.1 of the National LGBTI Inclusion Strategy (for which his Department is responsible), to implement LGBTI+ inclusive recruitment practices across the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34695/23]
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, my Department has policy responsibility for recruitment to the civil service. As reflected in the Civil Service Renewal 2024 Strategy, the civil service is strongly committed to equality of opportunity for all in terms of its recruitment and employment practices, and building a more diverse and inclusive workforce that is reflective of Ireland and the people it serves.
The Public Appointments Service (PAS), which is a body under the aegis of my Department, is the primary recruiter for the civil service and some parts of the public service. PAS are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce with the skills and attributes to meet the future challenges of the public service. Three key areas of focus include:
- better knowledge and understanding of who works in our civil service,
- creating more inclusive and equitable processes for all candidates, and
- leading by example in creating and encouraging their clients to foster more inclusive work places.
Workforce equality data provides powerful insights into the composition of a workforce. This type of data will enable organisations to identify and address inequality of access, discrimination and under representation. This year’s Civil Service Engagement Survey, issued by my Department, will ask, for the first time, equality monitoring questions including membership of LGBTQ+ community, to further enhance our understanding of diversity in the civil service.
The PAS Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) participated in Pride@Workconferenceon 23 May, part of this year’s Dublin Pride, on a panel entitled “The Data Don’t Lie,” which discussed the importance of equality monitoring data to drive diversity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ colleagues. PAS staff also hosted a stall during the conference to promote careers in the civil service for the LGBTQ+ community. The Civil Service offers support to all of its employees to engage and participate in LGBTQ+ events representing their respective organisations.
An ED&I diagnostic review of PAS’ internal and external recruitment operations took place in 2022 and recommendations to drive inclusion from that review are currently being implemented.
PAS have also developed a School Resource Kit to bring careers in the civil and public sector to life for young people from all backgrounds and in this resource kit PAS profile people from all backgrounds including members of the LGBT+ community.
Furthermore, OneLearning, the Civil Service Learning and Development Shared Service Centre based within my Department, provides staff with the opportunity to undertake a self-guided eLearning module developed by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) on Equality and Human Rights in the Public Service. This eLearning module has been developed to support and enable staff to understand and meet their obligations under the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty (Public Sector Duty) within public bodies and to support the goal to develop more diverse and inclusive workplaces. Since its inception this eLearning programme has been completed by 2,060 staff, with a further 404 going through it at the moment. A further instructor-led module entitled "Equality and Human Rights: Understanding Your Role (Level 1)" was launched in January 2023 and has been completed by 180 staff.
Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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99. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current status of Actions 2.3 and 3.1 of the National LGBTI Inclusion Strategy (for which his Department is responsible), specifically regarding the inclusion of diversity and inclusion perspectives in Civil Service training courses since the start of this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34696/23]
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Ensuring all OneLearning courses reflect Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in their content, is a guiding principle in the development of all OneLearning courses. OneLearning provides training for Civil Servants across all grades, organisations and locations. Contracts were signed in 2021 for a range of new Civil Service-wide training courses, including four specifically related to EDI (for general staff, people managers and senior leaders).
Leadership, Customer Service and People Management courses have Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) principles embedded throughout. In 2022 and 2023, 25 new courses have been developed by OneLearning in these areas and are available for Civil Servants to enrol in with another Customer Service course due to be launched in the coming weeks.
In addition, the OneLearning Learning Management System hosts the IHREC eLearning module ‘Equality and Human Rights in the Public Service'. The eLearning module provides those who complete it with an understanding of equality, human rights and the Public Sector Duty, and how to put the learning into practice in their day-to-day work.
OneLearning and the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS) host at least one Health and Wellbeing webinar a month covering a range of topics, including EDI from a personal perspective e.g. three webinars for Civil Servants, were hosted throughout June 2023, to celebrate Pride month:
- Pride Month – Letters and Stripes, delivered by Pride at Work. A presentation on the evolving LGBTQI+ terminology, with an emphasis on understanding pronouns, the differences between sexual orientation, gender identity and biological sex.
- Pride Month – The Journey of Pride, delivered by Pride at Work . On the history of Pride and LGBTQI+ activism and how that activism has shaped and influenced generations of LGBTQI+ people.
- Pride Month - Growing up in Ireland as a transgender woman, delivered by Jenny Behan. A personal account of Jenny’s experience of being a transwoman in Ireland – offering an insight into her experiences before and after transition and the issues currently facing the Transgender community, and indeed the LGBTQI+ group as a whole.
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