Draft Equality Action Plan
Accessibility Statement
Requests for the document in another format will be considered
Please contact: info@loughs-agency.org
1. Introduction
This document sets out Loughs Agency’s response to the Audit of Inequalities. The Equality Action Plan is aligned to the Agency’s current Business Plan and sets a plan for the period 2025-27. Progress will be measured annually with opportunities to amend the Plan should this be necessary.
In its development, consideration was given to a review of existing priorities and consideration of new priorities. This plan is a ‘live’ document and as such will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
2. Equality Scheme Commitments
The Equality Action Plan outlines actions relating to the Agency’s functions and takes account of its Equality Scheme commitments relating to Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Equality Scheme is available on the Agency’s website at www.loughs-agency.org.
The law requires the Agency, when carrying out its work, to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity across nine equality categories: age, gender, disability, marital status, political opinion, caring responsibilities, sexual orientation, religion and ethnicity. It also requires consideration of good relations regarding political opinion, religion and ethnicity.
In its Equality Scheme, Loughs Agency commits to monitoring progress and updating the plan as necessary. It also commits to engaging and consulting with stakeholders when reviewing this Action Plan.
3. Who We Are and What We Do
Loughs Agency is an agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (FCILC), established as one of the North South Implementation Bodies under the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement, constituted under the North South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and the British Irish Agreement Acts 1999 and 2002.
DRAFT DRAFT
The Board of Loughs Agency reports to the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) and its Government Sponsor Departments - the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland, and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) in Ireland.
Loughs Agency aims to provide sustainable social, economic and environmental benefits through the effective conservation, management, promotion and development of the fisheries and marine resources of the Foyle and Carlingford Areas. Loughs Agency’s statutory functions are as follows:
• Promotion of development of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough for commercial and recreational purposes in respect of marine, fishery and aquaculture matters.
• Management, conservation, protection, improvement and development of the inland fisheries of the Foyle and Carlingford Areas.
• Development and licensing of aquaculture and shellfisheries.
• Development of marine tourism.
Loughs Agency Headquarters are located in Derry~Londonderry, with a regional office in Carlingford, County Louth. The Agency has a staff complement of 53 across a diverse range of functions including fishery protection, scientific research, development, marketing and administration support. As a North South Body Loughs Agency operates under the policy direction of the NSMC and the two governments and is accountable to the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Oireachtas. At an administrative level, the Agency reports to its Sponsor Departments.
The Agency is fully committed to its statutory obligations in relation to equality and good relations duties and continues to meet its Equality Scheme commitments and the targets in its Audit of Inequalities. The Agency is also fully committed to gender equality, ensuring that all staff, regardless of gender, have equality of opportunity so that they realise their full rights and potential.
The Agency also operates within a wider context of the other formal North South infrastructure, and a range of regional agencies, local authorities and other stakeholders whose work and co-operation are important for the overall conservation and protection of the Foyle and Carlingford systems. Loughs Agency is committed to working in partnership at a strategic level with these stakeholders, and where appropriate to engage at operational level provided that operations and resources in this regard are aligned with the core purpose of the Agency and serve to enhance corporate objectives.
Senior Management Team Organisational Chart
The four priorities of the Corporate Plan are as follows:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Strategic Objectives
The Corporate Plan 2023-25 has been developed within the overall context of the Agency’s Strategic Direction 2020-2030 and its priorities, and their outcomes have been aligned within an overall outcomes framework which will contribute to implementing a strategic vision for the Agency over a new decade.
The Corporate Plan sets out clear priorities for the work of the Agency over the period 202325. These priorities take into account the imperatives which the Agency must meet in terms of its overall business, namely:
• Statutory regulatory, reporting and enforcement functions.
• Provision of scientific evidence to support and underpin the statutory functions of the Agency.
• Development of a robust scientific research function which contributes to the advancement of science and bodies of scientific knowledge.
• Development of collaborative area-based approaches with a range of stakeholders to enhance and scale-up conservation and protection of the natural resources, for which the Agency is a formal designated steward.
• Development of a dynamic business, executive and leadership environment and culture within the Agency which is focused in equal measures on agility, ambition, resilience, participation and efficiency, with staff wellbeing and professional development at the core of everything we do.
To ensure that the priorities and values of Loughs Agency’s Strategic Plan are progressed in the course of the Agency’s business, with particular reference to staff, core operations and our relationships.
To continue to maintain, develop and promote an accurate scientific evidence base providing data and information to support and inform the Agency’s core and statutory operations, while also promoting its role as a steward of key scientific knowledge.
DRAFT DRAFT
To develop, promote and sustain the natural resources of the catchments under Loughs Agency’s statutory care, through conservation, quality improvement, protection of species and habitats, education and awareness, partnership working and sustainable access to our natural resources.
To transform Loughs Agency, by investing in our people through building the capability and effectiveness of our staff; by creating a digitally-enabled organisation through upgrading our systems, strengthening our culture of evidence-informed decision-making and planning and through seeking new insights to create corporate resilience.
The Corporate Plan sets out each of the four priorities above within an outcomes framework in which the link between priority, measure and enabler actions (specific projects) is clear. Further detail on enabler actions are contained within Loughs Agency’s Business Plan for the same periods.
The Corporate Plan will be implemented, monitored and managed within an overall transformational, organisational and business performance framework which will also take account of the principles of embedding the Agency’s Strategic Direction at all levels of the Agency’s business, operations and stakeholder engagement. This will be characterised by alignment of scientific and development priorities, and by an overall staff development framework benefitting staff at all levels and across all functions of the organisation.
Loughs Agency is uniquely placed as a North South Body to directly contribute to and coordinate with stakeholders and other relevant organisations, to achieve the outcomes that both Programmes for Government aim to deliver. The areas under our remit can help enrich peoples’ lives through our conservation, protection, environmental, recreational programmes and educational initiatives.
The Agency will endeavour to maintain a watching brief on the challenges and opportunities which are presented by BREXIT locally, nationally and internationally, which have the potential to impact or enhance of the work of the Agency.
The Plan has therefore been developed in the context of the policy priorities of our Sponsor Departments and the priorities of other government departments and agencies, which have cross-cutting responsibilities with those of the Agency.
It also reflects the ethos and directly links with the high-level outcomes of the Northern Ireland Programme for Government and the Programme for a Partnership Government. Both Programmes for Government contain a number of key elements which will provide guiding principles by which the Agency can continue to maximise the impact of its work through this Plan, and into the future. The common theme of both Programmes is working together to create and drive economic growth, improving health and wellbeing, and providing a more equal and fair society.
Our Strategic Objectives will contribute to the delivery of the vision statement of each Sponsor Department.
“Our vision is for Ireland to become an acknowledged leader in delivering climate action, achieving environmental sustainability and bringing the opportunities offered by the communications revolution to all citizens”. Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
“Sustainability at the heart of a living, working, active landscape valued by everyone”. Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Loughs Agency, within and through the work of the Plan will take account of additional relevant policy drivers including the Climate Change Act (UK), the National Development Plan (Ire), National Mitigation Plan (Ire), National Adaptation Framework (Ire), and the National Policy Position on Climate Change and Low Carbon Development (Ire).
Overall, the Foyle and Carlingford Areas can provide the catalyst to develop commercial opportunities which will encourage economic growth in the context of overall climate change, and adaptation and in keeping with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We can provide leadership to create energetic and sustainable environments through educating and empowering people to live and work sustainably to respect, protect and conserve their natural environment, and benefit from enhanced social wellbeing.
In all of our work, we will continue to engage with local communities and will provide opportunities that are inclusive and accessible to everyone.
4. Developing the Equality Action Plan
A team was formed to review previous key documents including the previous Equality Action Plan, the Five-year Review of the Equality Scheme, the Corporate Plan and Business Plans. The team then conducted an Audit of Inequalities. Consequently, the review of the Audit of Inequalities identified the need to revise the Equality Action Plan to ensure that it reflected the current status of activities and remit available to Loughs Agency.
5. Contents of the Equality Action Plan
It is important to highlight that the Action Plan has been designed to be flexible, adaptable and responsive to changing circumstances and needs.
The broad themes and areas of work where Loughs Agency considers targeted actions can address inequalities and advance equality of opportunity and good relations are currently:
• Strategic and policy development.
• Human Resources.
• Communication and engagement.
• Accessibility and inclusion.
Strategic and Policy Development
Loughs Agency appreciates that equality, diversity and disability-related issues need to be at the core of business planning. To this end the Plan ensures that we mainstream equality, diversity and disability issues across all functions.
Human Resources
Loughs Agency values the need for staff to be empowered and given the appropriate training and tools to do their job. One of Loughs Agency’s core values is equality; the Agency is keen to ensure that through this Action Plan:
• We have a fuller picture of the makeup of our workforce.
• We will ensure all our staff, regardless of their background, will enjoy working for Loughs Agency.
• We will ensure that all staff are made aware of the need to address equality legislation as part of their job role.
• We will ensure that our staff and Board Members are trained in equality, diversity and disability-related issues.
Communication and Engagement
Loughs Agency highly values communication. Our aim is to ensure that we communicate effectively with all our stakeholders. To this end we will ensure that our website is accessible. In addition, we will ensure that diverse imagery is used in all our publications.
Accessibility and Inclusion
Loughs Agency engages with local communities and will provide opportunities that are inclusive and accessible to everyone and therefore is keen to ensure that through this Action Plan the Agency will:
• Review our engagement with hard to reach groups.
• Review our stakeholders.
• Ensure all projects are open to all e.g. Foyle and Carlingford Ambassadors Programme.
• Represent diverse imagery in all publications.
6. Reviewing the Plan
As this Plan is intended to be a ‘live’ document, it will evolve and be reviewed in line with Loughs Agency Business Planning process. This linkage to the Business Planning cycle will also ensure that equality of opportunity and promotion of good relations are incorporated and mainstreamed at a strategic level.
Appendix 1 outlines actions for the next three years. The Agency will keep this Plan under regular review and report annually on progress to the Equality Commission NI. The Agency will undertake a wider review in four years and will involve Section 75 equality groups and individuals in the review, producing a new three-year plan.
This document is also available on the Agency’s website at www.loughs-agency.org.
7. Contact Details
The Director of Corporate Services is responsible for ensuring that the actions in this Plan are undertaken and completed. Any questions or comments regarding this Plan, should be channeled in the first instance through the Director of Corporate Services, at the address given below, who will respond to you as soon as possible.
Loughs Agency
22 Victoria Road
Derry~Londonderry
DRAFT DRAFT
BT47 2AB
Tel: 028 71342100
Email: info@loughs-agency.org
Website: www.loughs-agency.org
Appendix 1
and Policy Development
1 Loughs Agency will have better integration of Section 75 duties in all planning and decision-making processes.
Review the equality screening forms and processes.
Complete timely and thorough equality screening exercises of all new policies. Revised Equality Screening forms and processes.
2 Mainstreaming equality and good relations and linking to Business Planning. Review equality and good relations processes for all aspects of business.
3 Improved awareness of disability issues. Develop a Disability Action Plan. Consult on Plan.
Screening
Improved awareness of HR processes and practices.
8 Mainstreaming equality across all functions. Equality targets set at corporate level.
% measurable Business Plan targets relating to equality achieved.
Cases.
4 Improved understanding of equality processes and outcomes. 5-year Review of Equality Scheme. Completed Equality Scheme review. Amend Equality Scheme as required.
5 Improved awareness of understanding inequalities and potential impact of decision-making.
DRAFT DRAFT
and report on progress of Equality Action Plan. Review issues on an annual basis and develop actions.
9 Greater participation of all sections of society in all Loughs Agency projects.
Review Foyle Ambassadors, Water Warriors, Foyle Maritime Festival, North West Angling Fair.
Monitor and address the underrepresentation of various groups within the Foyle and Carlingford Ambassadors Project to promote greater diversity and inclusion.
Annual for Foyle and Carlingford Ambassadors, Water Warriors and North West Angling Fair. Bi-annual for Foyle Maritime Festival.
2. Human Resource Management
Improved diversity in staff complement. Positive targeting of underrepresented groups. % applicants from underrepresented group. Monitoring staff for Section 75 categories.
Improved awareness of equality of opportunity and good relations. Comprehensive equality and good relations training for all staff.
Comprehensive equality and good relations training for all Board Members.
Improved awareness of disability equality awareness. Disability equality awareness training for all staff.
Comprehensive disability equality and good relations training for all Board Members.
Board Members trained.
3. Communication
Improved wellbeing in the workplace. Implement recommendations from staff survey on workplace environment and culture.
staff survey results.
DRAFT DRAFT
14. Improved awareness of equality legislation. Equality legislation integrated into new job descriptions. % applicants applying with knowledge of equality legislation.
