Vol. 514 No. 2
55 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on whether the Statute of Limitations should be lifted in respect of stress caused by bullying in the workplace in view of the fact it can take a considerable time before people affected are able to confront the added trauma of taking a legal action. [3532/00]
In September 1999, I set up a task force on the prevention of workplace bullying, which is being chaired by an independent chairperson and is operating under the auspices of the Health and Safety Authority.
The task force is examining workplace bullying in detail and is focusing on identifying the size of the problem and the employment sectors most at risk as well as developing proposals for practical programmes and strategies, both to prevent workplace bullying, and to provide an appropriate response from the relevant State agencies.
The task force is due to report at the end of March 2000. Given the importance of establishing the factual position in relation to workplace bullying and the need to establish definitions in the area, I am unwilling to commit myself to any particular course of action until such time as the task force has made its report and the board of the Health and Safety Authority has given me its advice on the matter.
