COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 14, 2025

QUESTION NO. 8

QUESTION: Councillor L. de Courcy

To ask the Chief Executive, whether South Dublin County Council’s hiring policy aligns with the Corporate Plan regarding race, where 'race (encompassing race, colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins)'  is an identified group under the Equality and Human Rights Duty - clarify whether there are any quotas or preferential treatment for non-nationals over nationals in recruitment—particularly when candidates have equal or differing levels of qualifications and experience

REPLY:

South Dublin County Council (SDCC) is committed to promoting equality and human rights across all its functions, including its hiring policies. As set out in the Corporate Plan 2025-2029 and the Equality and Human Rights Framework, SDCC aims to ensure that its recruitment processes are fair, transparent, and inclusive. 

The Corporate Plan 2025-2029 sets out the importance of inclusivity and diversity within the workforce. It outlines strategic goals to foster an inclusive work environment where all employees, regardless of background, can thrive. This commitment is reflected in the Strategic Workforce Plan 2025 - 2029 (SWFP), which is designed to align with the Corporate Plan objectives. The SWFP includes measures to engage with diverse communities and ensure that the workforce reflects the diversity of the communities that we serve.

Under the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty, as detailed in the Equality and Human Rights Framework, SDCC is legally obligated to promote equality and prevent discrimination. This duty requires the Council to assess, address, and report on equality and human rights issues, including those related to race. The framework identifies race as a protected ground and mandates that SDCC take proactive steps to ensure equal treatment and opportunities for all individuals.

SDCC’s hiring policy ensures that the selection process is based on merit. The Council’s commitment to equality means that no candidate is given preferential treatment based on their race, nationality, or ethnic origin. The goal is to select the best candidate for the position while ensuring that the process is fair and transparent.

SDCC’s recruitment policies are designed to be inclusive and non-discriminatory and are based on the following principles:

• Probity (integrity, impartiality, fairness, reliability, ethical conduct and confidentiality).
• Merit (a transparent, competitive recruitment process where the criteria for judging suitability of candidates can be related directly to the qualifications, attributes, skills and competencies required to fulfil the duties and responsibilities of the post).
• Best practice (adhering to good practice recruitment and selection procedures extends to all aspects of the appointment process).
• Consistency and transparency (treating all candidates fairly, to a consistent standard and in a consistent manner providing for transparency and open and active communication with candidates during the recruitment and selection process).

SDCC works to promote a culture of equality and to develop equality and recruitment policies and procedures to ensure that all candidates are selected on merit.  The Council endeavours to ensure that the selection process does not provide unjustifiable advantage or disadvantage to any particular candidate or group of candidates.  The recruitment and selection process embraces genuine equality of opportunity, and this is integral to the process by which appointments are made.

SDCC does not implement quotas or preferential treatment for non-nationals over nationals. Instead, the focus is on ensuring that all candidates are assessed based on their qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role. The Equality and Human Rights Framework emphasises the importance of equal treatment and fairness in all employment practices.