The mission of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is to advance evidence-based policymaking that supports economic sustainability and social progress in Ireland. ESRI researchers apply the highest standards of academic excellence to challenges facing policymakers, focusing on 12 areas of critical importance to 21st century Ireland.The Institute was founded in 1960 by a group of senior civil servants led by Dr T. K. Whitaker, who identified the need for independent and in-depth research analysis to provide a robust evidence base for policymaking in Ireland. Since then, the Institute has remained committed to independent research and its work is free of any expressed ideology or political position. The Institute publishes all research reaching the appropriate academic standard, irrespective of its findings or who funds the research.The quality of its research output is guaranteed by a rigorous peer review process. ESRI researchers are experts in their fields and are committed to producing work that meets the highest academic standards and practices.The work of the Institute is disseminated widely in books, journal articles and reports. ESRI publications are available to download, free of charge, from its website. Additionally, ESRI staff communicate research findings at regular conferences and seminars.The ESRI is a company limited by guarantee, answerable to its members and governed by a Council, comprising 14 members who represent a cross-section of ESRI members from academia, civil services, state agencies, businesses and civil society. The Institute receives an annual grant-in-aid from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to support the scientific and public interest elements of the Institute's activities; the grant accounted for an average of 30 per cent of the Institute's income over the lifetime of the last Research Strategy. The remaining funding comes from research programmes supported by government departments and agencies, public bodies and competitive research programmes.

Racial discrimination in this report is understood to mean ‘any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin’ (ICERD, Article 1). Discrimination is distinct from racial prejudice (an attitude) and stereotypes (beliefs). Discrimination can be damaging to both individuals’ life chances and their wellbeing, as well as to society (OECD, 2013; Fibbi et al., 2021). Yet discrimination is difficult to measure accurately. It is also challenging to devise measures to combat discriminatory behaviour and promote diversity. This report reviews international literature on racial discrimination in the labour market and the effectiveness of measures to combat it. The aim is to distil the evidence into a short report to inform measures addressing discrimination in the labour market, including the current development of the National Action Plan Against Racism. The focus is on specific measures that can be implemented now to address current racial discrimination in the labour market.

The mission of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is to advance evidence-based policymaking that supports economic sustainability and social progress in Ireland. ESRI researchers apply the highest standards of academic excellence to challenges facing policymakers, focusing on 12 areas of critical importance to 21st century Ireland.The Institute was founded in 1960 by a group of senior civil servants led by Dr T.K. Whitaker, who identified the need for independent and in-depth research analysis to provide a robust evidence base for policymaking in Ireland.Since then, the Institute has remained committed to independent research and its work is free of any expressed ideology or political position. The Institute publishes all research reaching the appropriate academic standard, irrespective of its findings or who funds the research.The quality of its research output is guaranteed by a rigorous peer review process. ESRI researchers are experts in their fields and are committed to producing work that meets the highest academic standards and practices.The work of the Institute is disseminated widely in books, journal articles and reports. ESRI publications are available to download, free of charge, from its website. Additionally, ESRI staff communicate research findings at regular conferences and seminars.The ESRI is a company limited by guarantee, answerable to its members and governed by a Council, comprising 14 members who represent a cross-section of ESRI members from academia, civil services, state agencies, businesses and civil society. The Institute receives an annual grant-in-aid from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to support the scientific and public interest elements of the Institute's activities; the grant accounted for an average of 30 per cent of the Institute's income over the lifetime of the last Research Strategy. The remaining funding comes from research programmes supported by government departments and agencies, public bodies and competitive research programmes.

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Ireland's Women in Finance Charter was launched April 2022. It is an initiative supported by industry and the Government of Ireland to improve gender balance at all levels within the financial services sector. In its first year, 56 firms employing 44,340 workers signed the Charter and completed the baseline survey. This report is based on responses from the baseline survey, together with results from the first follow-up annual survey carried out in early 2023 and qualitative interviews with five firms. KEY FINDINGS• The 56 signatories cover a wide range of financial services, including banking (9 firms), insurance/assurance (17 firms) and investment and fund administration (10 firms).• Half of the signatories are large firms, with 250 or more employees, 30 per cent are medium sized, with between 50 and 249 employees, and the remaining 20 per cent are small enterprises, with less than 50 employees. Large firms are over-represented, but by virtue of their size they cover two in every five employees in financial services. Multinational firms dominate among the signatories: 71 per cent are internationally owned.• Collectively, the firms set 121 targets on female representation at different levels within their organisations. The largest number of targets set were at the senior management level (30) and board level (29).• Firms were free to set both the threshold for the target and the timeframe in which it is to be achieved. The majority of targets set (68, or 56 per cent) had a relatively short timeframe, with a deadline within the period 2022-2024.• Where targets for improvements in female representation are set, they are generally ambitious -at board and executive committee level the mean target is for 39 per cent female representation, compared to the baseline average of 23 per cent and 24 per cent respectively. The mean targets for female representation are 42 per cent at senior management, 44 per cent at middle management and 49 per cent at junior management levels.This first annual report identifies improvement in female representation within the first year of Ireland's Women in Finance Charter. The ongoing monitoring of progress will allow us to track progress over the coming years and to identify the strategies that have been most effective over time.