Iarnród Éireann is committed to a policy of equal opportunities in its employment practices and has a dedicated Equality Officer, Philippa Conaty. It is the responsibility of Managers and staff to ensure that this policy is implemented and a safe and secure workplace is provided to all employees. All employees can expect the opportunity to develop and progress within the Company on the basis of ability and merit.

What does equal opportunities mean to you?
Equal opportunities means that all employees can expect to receive equal and fair treatment. Managers and staff are responsible for ensuring that each worker is treated fairly.

The Equality Programme:
The Equality Programme will offer confidential support to any member of staff who feels that he/she has been unfairly treated in any of the areas covered by the Employment Equality Act which prohibits discrimination in employment on nine distinct grounds. These are:

Age
Race
Gender
Religion
Disability
Family Status
Marital Status
Sexual Orientation
Membership of the Traveller Community

The Equality Department also provides a programme of workshops on diversity and combatting workplace bullying for both management and staff.

The Equal Opportunity Policy applies to:

Recruitment:
Advertising and recruitment practices must be unbiased and fair. Access and progression are based on ability and merit.

Working Arrangements and Conditions:
A work life balance compatable work environment should respect all employees and should not discriminate under any of the stated headings. Equal opportunities must exist for promotional prospects, in job classification and re-grading.

Training Opportunities:
If one section of the workforce has been under-represented it is permissible to offer positive support and training which will help to redress the imbalance. The Company encourages and supports training for all employees.

Bullying and Sexual Harassment:
Iarnród Éireann strives to provide a safe and secure working environment for all employees, where all workers respect each other and no aspect of bullying or sexual harassment is allowed to exist.

Bullying is repeated aggression, verbal, psychological or physical, conducted by an individual or group against another person or persons. Sexual harassment includes all forms of sexual abuse from unpleasant innuendoes and remarks to sexual assault.

Discrimination:
Under the Employment Equality Act, direct and indirect discrimination are both illegal.

Direct Discrimination:
Direct discrimination arises when one person is treated less favourably than another. This involves a comparison between different treatment experienced by two individuals in comparable situations.

Indirect Discrimination:
Indirect discrimination occurs where requirement, practice or policy, which is not essential for the job, has a negative impact on a particular group, such as people with disabilities. Another example would be imposing low age entry levels or unnecessary height restrictions.

Contact:
Philippa Conaty, Equality and Diversity Officer, Connolly Station,
Dublin 1
Telephone: 01 703 2499
Email: philippa.conaty@irishrail.ie