IRELAND
Irish Public Servants are receiving unconscious bias training, helping them to avoid making decisions based on gender, class, race, or other stereotypes.
Senior managers in most Departments have received training in how to recognise and avoid any prior biases and prejudices they may have.
The cost of providing the training is more than €35,000 (A$55,000).
The Department of Finance spent approximately €20,000 (A$31,400) on bias training for 223 staff over the past two years.
The Department of Foreign Affairs spent €3,900 (A$6,100) on the training last year, and €1,450 (A$2,280) so far this year.
The majority of Departments ran small workshops on the topic; however, the Department of Health, Department of Transport, and Department of Children have not run any bias training.
A spokesperson for the Department of Finance said the training helped staff address prejudices they may have and look at how they could minimise their effect and make “better and fairer” decisions.
Deputy Leader of the Green Party, Catherine Martin (pictured) said it was a positive step.
“However, training must be particularly focused on management and for those involved in recruitment,” Ms Martin said.
She said men were twice as likely to hold senior positions in the Public Service, despite women making up two-thirds of the workforce.
“Unconscious bias training must be regularly implemented and assessed,” Ms Martin said.
“Sporadic training without analysis may be perceived to be little more than a box-ticking exercise.”
Last November, a woman was awarded €7,500 (A$11,800) by the Workplace Relations Commission, which found she had been discriminated against in a job interview by comments made by Minister for Training, Skills and Innovation, John Halligan.
During the interview, Mr Halligan asked the woman whether she was married and whether she had children.
She was applying for a position as Private Secretary to a Minister in the Department of Business.
She was not successful, and Mr Halligan later said he regretted the comments.
Dublin, 1 August 2018
