Civil Service unveils Equality and Diversity Plan

The Northern Ireland Civil Service has published an Employment Equality and Diversity Plan.

This plan identifies the key equality and diversity issues that the Northern Ireland Civil Service, as an employer, will address over the period 2008 to 2011.

The Service employs around 28,000 people supporting Ministers, developing policy and legislation and above all, delivering or supporting key public services in areas such as health, education, regeneration, culture, agriculture, employment and transport.

These are services that touch everyone in Northern Ireland and in order to maintain the confidence of the whole community, it is important that the civil service workforce is drawn from, and representative of, the diversity of Northern Ireland’s society.

Commenting on the plan, the Minister for Finance and Personnel, Nigel Dodds, MP, MLA said: “It is a stated aim of the Civil Service to be representative of the community it serves.  The Service will continue to work hard to promote itself as an employer committed to equality and diversity and I would urge community and political leaders to play their part by encouraging citizens to recognise it as a public sector career of choice.”

The plan outlines the actions the Northern Ireland Civil Service will take over the next few years to:-

• create and maintain a working environment within the Civil Service where all staff have a right to equality of opportunity and individual differences are valued and respected; and
• take steps towards making the Northern Ireland Civil Service workforce more representative of the community by attracting a more diverse applicant pool for advertised posts at all levels.

The plan is available online on the DFP internet at http://www.dfpni.gov.uk/nics-equality-diversity-plan.htm

Notes to Editors:

1. This first Northern Ireland Employment Equality and Diversity Plan covers the period 2008 to 2011 and will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis.
2. In developing the Plan, the Northern Ireland Civil Service consulted with a range of organisations including the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland, Trade Unions, representative groups, etc.
3. Media enquiries only to DFP Communications Office on 028 9052 7644 or 028 9052 7375. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.