It is a divisive subject.
The introduction of positive discrimination in the civil service is being announced this week by Paschal Donohue. The policy is designed to promote the appointment of women to higher positions in the civil-service.
Effectively it means, if there are two candidates, going for the same job with the same qualifications and credentials but one is male and one is female, the female will always get the job.
The policy will be in place for jobs in the highest grade of the civil service in order to redress the gender imbalance that currently exists. Two of the 15 secretaries-general currently running government departments are female, 13 are male.
Donohue, speaking to The Sunday Times, has said that the government has set a 50/50 target of achieving gender balance in civil service management.
The positive discrimination policy will apply to those who are in the running for assistant, deputy secretary and secretary jobs. The three highest positions in the government’s departments.
Positive discrimation is not a new policy, but it is one that has yet to take hold of Irish state and semi-state bodies.
Considering the successful implementation of this scheme could mean its spread to other areas of employment do you think there should there be positive discrimination in the rule books? Or is there always going to be a difference however slight between job candidates that should mean one by merit not gender gets the job over the other?
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