More diversity called for in recruitment and staffing at SDCC

TWO councillors have called for more diversity to be implemented in recruitment and staffing at South Dublin County Council.

Speaking at the recent monthly council meeting, Cllr Madeleine Johansson (PBP) and Joanna Tuffy (Lab) say more needs to be done.

Both councillors have been working with an intern via a programme with the Immigrant Council of Ireland.

Cllr Johansson said: “My intern made a comment to me around the diversity, or the lack of diversity I should say, of not just elected members, but also staff on the council. I have noticed though in the last year, a bit of change in that, which is really good to see that there is more diversity on the staff in the council. I think it’s important that staff and public services represent the whole of our community which is increasingly diverse in Dublin.”

Cllr Joanna Tuffy supported the call and urged the council to have more diversity on display at public events.

“I think in the imagery of how we represent, we should be very conscious of that as well, and if we have events, we should try and have diversity at them,” said Cllr Tuffy.

“It’s not just obviously the council, it’s everywhere I would say. I would make that point with my own political party as well.”

Tuffy said she held off taking on an intern from the Immigrant Council in previous years because she thought it may have been “difficult” for the work of a councillor, but “it worked out very well and I would highly recommend it to other councillors.”

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