Vol. 550 No. 5
77 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the recommendations she plans to introduce following the publication of the Government task force report on workplace bullying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9665/02]
The task force on the prevention of workplace bullying which reported in March 2001 made a series of recommendations concerning action to be taken at both State and enterprise level in order to address workplace bullying. The main recommendations requiring State action include the designation of the Health and Safety Authority as the central co-ordinating State agency, the establishment of an advisory committee on workplace bullying within the Health and Safety Authority, the introduction of three codes of practice on workplace bullying and harassment under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, the Industrial Relations Act, 1990, and the Employment Equality Act, 1998, and the development of a dignity in the workplace charter.
Progress to date includes the establishment of the advisory committee and a bullying response unit within the Health and Safety Authority and the development and launch of the dignity in the workplace charter which has been endorsed by the ICTU, IBEC and CIF and widely distributed to individual businesses. In addition, all three codes of practice on workplace bullying and harassment have been completed and will be publicly launched next week. They will be administered by the Health and Safety Authority, the Equality Authority and the Labour Relations Commission. The codes will act as a reference point for the agencies in offering advice and assistance to both employers and employees in relation to workplace bullying. They will be an invaluable source in providing guidelines on arrangements, procedures and best practice in tackling workplace bullying and harassment at enterprise level.
