Vol. 568 No. 5
434 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government his views on the high number of bullying and harassment cases, relative to the number of employees, being taken by staff at Kilkenny Castle; the number of cases being taken at each depot throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16709/03]
My Department has a staff of approximately 2,400, including over 1,100 non-established industrial staff at peak. The total number of complaints of bullying, harassment or sexual harassment being investigated across my Department is 14 at present. A number of these involve cross-complaints between the same group of people. In relation to the Kilkenny Castle workplace I refer to the reply to Question No. 715 of 10 June 2003.
It would be inappropriate to comment on these matters in more detail at this stage or to identify precisely the locations where allegations have been made given due regard that must be had at all stages of an investigation to the rights of all parties involved, including witnesses, and in particular to their constitutional right to the protection of their good names. An essential element of Civil Service policy for dealing with such cases is a recognition that a complaint is no more than an allegation unless and until the facts have been satisfactorily established by the investigation and until a conclusion has been reached by the investigator.
