During Question Time on 14 April 2005, Deputy McGinley questioned me on the findings of an independent investigation into alleged incidents of bullying, harassment and related matters in Waterways Ireland.
In the course of supplementary questions, a number of exchanges took place as follows. Deputy McGinley asked: "Did the report say there was bullying?", to which I replied, "No, it did not." Deputy McGinley then asked further and said: "The Minister saw the report but I did not."
In reply, I said:
I am telling the Deputy what it is in the report. It said the allegations of harassment were not upheld.
Finally, Deputy McGinley stated:
My understanding is that it specifically said there were incidents of bullying. The only way it will solve this is to get our hands on the report.
I replied:
The investigation grouped the allegations into four main strands. Those strands are the findings of the investigation, as set out. The allegations of harassment, which is another word for bullying, were not upheld.
I would like to correct and clarify on the record my statement on 14 April on these matters. The correct version is as follows: "allegations of harassment were not upheld by the investigation". However, there is a legal difference between harassment and bullying, which I overlooked in giving my reply. I should have answered in reply to the allegations regarding bullying as follows:
While the investigators concluded that there was substance to some of the allegations of bullying, the events themselves were found not to be as extensive or as serious as alleged. Furthermore, the investigators believed the difficulties created could have been minimised if the issues had been taken up by the complainant with the CEO at an earlier stage.
I apologise to the House for the incorrect information given but clarify that the error was totally inadvertent. The correct version of the position regarding these matters was already available to Deputy McGinley as he and other Opposition spokespersons had been provided with a copy of the summary of the findings of joint investigation, which included this information, by my office ten days earlier, on 4 April 2005. I am providing a copy of the relevant material to the Oireachtas Library.
Furthermore, immediately following Question Time on 14 April, I spoke in detail with the Deputy in question regarding the issues involved which, as personnel issues, are sensitive and subject to the normal confidentiality that applies to such matters. I also offered that he be given a full confidential briefing on all aspects of the case by the senior official in my Department dealing with the matter, an offer that was taken up by him on 26 April.
I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me this opportunity to correct the record of the House as regards these matters.
