Lord Mayor of Dublin Brendan Carr is to launch Dublin City Council’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Employee Inclusion Strategy 2017 – 2020.

Dublin City Council provides services to a diverse population who live, work and do business in the Council’s administrative area and beyond, and is committed through its Corporate Plan to developing the city as a place where all those living and working there have a sense of belonging.

To strengthen DCC’s commitment to creating an inclusive culture that values lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) colleagues, the Council took account of the views and experiences of its LGBT Staff Network and committed to an LGBT strategic plan to ensure it is an LGBT aware and inclusive employer. This strategic plan focuses on three objectives: to facilitate LGBT visibility in Dublin City Council; to promote and strengthen LGBT inclusion at all levels in the City Council; and to provide education and awareness on LGBT-related issues.

“Diversity is one of the Council’s core principles, as it recognises that diversity in the workplace provides an important opportunity to develop the best outcomes for the Council, its employees and its service users. In accordance with this principle Dublin City Council is committed to ensuring our workplace is inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees,” said Martina Malone, Senior Staff Officer and Chairperson of DCC’s LGBT Staff Network.

The establishment of the DCC LGBT Staff Network highlighted the presence and visibility of LGBT employees and has provided a structure to ensure issues of concern to them are not overlooked and receive attention.

“The Council is aware that a visible LGBT staff presence is also crucial to the well-being of LGBT colleagues as it helps to promote inclusion, foster networking, support recruitment and retention,” adds Malone.

The Strategy will be officially launched by the Lord Mayor on May 11 at the Mansion House and will be attended by the Council Management, elected councillors, senators and other public sector LGBT colleagues.

This piece first appeared in GCN 329, May 2017