Gender Action Plan Implementation Group: Meeting Notes

11.15 am, Thursday 3 December 2020 - Microsoft Teams Meeting

In attendance:

Karen Martin (Chairperson)

Maria Bannon

Harry Clarke

Louise Close

Kate McCullough

Sebastien Mingout

Roisin Mooney

Raymond Russell

Jake Wilson

Apologies:

James Gilsenan

Richard Stewart

Lucia Wilson

1. Update on Transgender Policy

Maria Bannon briefed the group on the development of the transgender policy.  She provided some background to the policy, including the Assembly Commission’s participation in Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Programme, which aims to ensure that all LGBT staff are accepted in the workplace.  She said the policy will aim to ensure that the needs of transgender staff and visitors are recognised and that staff, particularly customer-facing staff, will have a better awareness and understanding of transgender issues.  The policy will be developed and consulted on in the coming months, and training is planned to be rolled out by November 2021. 

A section 75 monitoring questionnaire is also being prepared, which will allow staff to update information across all section 75 categories.  It is expected that this confidential questionnaire will be circulated to staff in the new year. 

Kate McCullough mentioned a recent meeting of the Finance Committee during which Committee members queried why the Department of Finance was a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Programme.  Kate wondered whether members are aware of the Assembly Commission’s participation in the Stonewall programme.  Maria said that the Assembly Commission had approved participation in the Diversity Champions Programme and that a postmaster had been issued to all staff. 

Karen Martin mentioned that the Assembly Commission has approved a Behaviour Code, which sets out the behaviours expected of all of those working within or visiting the Assembly.  The Behaviour Code will issue shortly and will be displayed throughout Parliament Buildings.

2. Update on Diversity Mark NI application

Roisin Mooney provided a brief update on progress on the application for the Diversity Mark NI Bronze award, an accreditation that recognises organisations for their commitment to advancing gender diversity.   The application form asks organisations to detail three targets related to gender diversity.  The three targets in the Assembly Commission’s application are:  the development of a transgender policy; the development of menopause guidance for staff and managers; and the roll out of the People Manager Programme, which will develop the leadership skills of staff.  It is hoped that the final form will be submitted to the independent assessment panel by April 2021.  The group will be kept informed of any feedback received. 

3. AOB

Kate asked whether consideration could be given to setting up focus groups with outside agencies to identify and discuss gender issues that may not previously have been considered by the group.  Maria said that external perspectives can be very useful, and mentioned that the Assembly Commission’s Disability Advisory Group, which comprises members of disability organisations, has provided feedback on policies and guidance in the past.  She added that the Gender Action Plan was purposely established as a fluid document so that actions can be added at any point, and that it is always open to group members and other staff to suggest new actions or matters to explore. 

Louise Close agreed that external viewpoints were very important and gave the example of recent engagement she had had with groups and individuals on disability issues.  She said that it is only by talking to people that we gain a good understanding of the issues they face. 

Karen said that any discussion around additional focus groups would need to include careful consideration of terms of reference, desired outcomes, who would sit on them, how often they should meet, etc.  Karen went on to say that Gender Action Plan Implementation Group members in their respective roles liaise with a range of external bodies and stakeholders, for example Louise’s engagement referred to above, and that it is very useful to bring forward information and ideas arising from this.

Next meeting to be held in late February.