Our Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty

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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Public Sector Duty Committee

In line with our obligations under the Public Sector Duty, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (‘the Department’) established an EDI & PSD Committee in 2020. It is currently chaired by a member of the Management Board and comprises senior representation from across the Department.

The purpose of the committee is to oversee the implementation of the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty and to promote equality, diversity and inclusion across the Department.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

The Department’s first EDI Strategy was published in March 2022 and aims to:

• Achieve better policy outcomes and improve the accessibility and quality of our services
• Support the development of a skilled and diverse workforce
• Build and embed a workplace culture which facilitates, supports and encourages contributions from all.

The strategy contains several actions which are integrated into business plans across the Department with appropriate indicators and monitored along with other organisation goals and strategic priorities. The committee monitors the implementation of the actions within the EDI strategy via quarterly meetings.

The Department commits to a refresh of its EDI strategy during 2026 and engaging in consultation to understand additional equality and human rights issues and priorities for staff and service users. The current Public Sector Duty assessment will underpin and inform this process.

Public Sector Equality & Human Rights Duty

Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 establishes a positive duty on public bodies to have regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, promote equality and protect the human rights of staff and the people to whom services are provided. This duty, known as the Public Sector Duty (PSD), also requires “an assessment of the human rights and equality issues it believes to be relevant to the functions and purpose of the body and the policies, plans and actions in place or proposed to be put in place to address those issues”.

The Public Sector Duty is consistent with the core functions and values of the Department. The Department plays a central role in underpinning and sustaining a democratic and just society, and the way we do so reflects our deep commitment to human rights and equality.

The duty is equally relevant to the experience of our staff. In line with our values of being open, collaborative and professional, we are committed to creating a workplace culture that supports and values contributions from all our colleagues and service users and strives to eliminate all forms of discrimination.

In addition to oversight by the EDI & PSD Committee, the following key channels are used by the Department to address its Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty obligations:

• The Department Statement of Strategy 2025-2028, annual reports and annual statements of priorities;
• Customer Charter and Customer Service Action Plan 2025-2028;
• Gender Pay Gap Reports;
• The Equality Budgeting initiative;
• Better Public Services Transformation 2030 Strategy;
• Sustainable Development Goals Policy Map
• Civil Service Renewal 2030 Strategy and Action Plan; and
• HR Strategy and Initiatives

PSD Assessment & Action Plan

2025 - 2028 Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty Assessment & Action Plan

This report sets out the Department’s assessment of the human rights and equality issues relevant to its functions and was prepared in accordance with Section 42 of the 2014 Act. It describes the policies, plans and actions in place or in progress across the Department to address these issues and sets out a series of actions that the Department needs to take to continue with its implementation of the Public Sector Duty.