COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

MOTION NO. 9

MOTION: Councillor F. Timmons

"That this Area Committee requests that South Dublin County Council adopt the Clondalkin Rainbow Charter that would help create and promote fully inclusive workplaces and look at how this can be promoted throughout our county and look at launching it around Pride Week."

REPORT:

Within the Clondalkin Rainbow Charter there are five suggested areas for actions. These are:

We recognise the importance of visually sending a message that we are an LGBT+ friendly and aware place;

We proof our organisation, its policies and procedures to ensure the consideration and inclusion of the LGBT+ community in all aspects of our work;

We ensure that staff and volunteers are aware of including and welcoming members of the LGBT+ community in all our work;

We ensure that we have relevant information available for and about members of the LGBT+ community, our families and friends;

We raise awareness of the LGBT+ community among the people we work with.

South Dublin County Council has demonstrated a strong commitment to LGBTQ+ equality and the LGBTQ+ community through a variety of actions, particularly over the past decade. Provided below is a sample of the actions that we have taken that meet the Rainbow Charter suggested areas for action:

The Pride Flag is flown over County Hall and Civic Offices Clondalkin in recognition of Pride Week each June.

The Transgender Pride Flag was flown on Tuesday, 31st March, 2020 in recognition of International Transgender Day of Visibility 2020. The flag will be flown annually from 2020 to observe this day of visibility.

Council policies, plans and staff forms are equality proofed on an ongoing basis.

The South Dublin County Council LGBTQ+ Staff Network, was founded in October 2017 by members of staff of South Dublin County Council. Anyone who identifies on the LGBTQ+ spectrum who is directly employed by the Council is eligible to join. Membership is also open to retired and former employees. The Network provides a staff LGBTQ+ information page through the Council’s Intranet. The Council’s Equality Officer supports the Executive of the Network.

South Dublin County Council were active members of the Diversity Champions initiative and through this membership we have forged strong links with the Dublin City Council LGBT+ Staff Network.

If the motion for SDCC to adopt the Clondalkin Rainbow Charter is agreed by the Area Committee, it will be considered in the context of the Council’s Equality and Human Rights Framework which will be developed this year to meet our responsibilities under Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) Act 2014.