Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2016
81. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the development of a dignity at work charter in the Prison Service, including when she will publish information on it; if she has launched a dignity at work campaign; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17015/16]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that, as part of the IPS Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015, a Dignity at Work steering group was established and five behaviours were identified by staff to ensure a dignified work environment – Respectful, Supportive, Fair and Inclusive, Openness, and Competence.
Following from this the Irish Prison Service developed a number of policies including Acceptable Behaviour Standard, Anti Graffiti Policy, Competency Framework, Well-Being at Work Policy, to create the foundations to the Programme.
Support and development of staff to promote these behaviours is a key Strategic Action in the new Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan 2016 – 2018 'Creating a Better Environment' which I will be publishing on Monday 27 June 2016. When developing this strategic action the Irish Prison Service took into account the report by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons Report on Culture and Organisation in the Irish Prison Service: A Roadmap for the Future which examined the current culture within the Irish Prison Service and brought forward suggestions for the future organisational and cultural development of the Irish Prison Service.
As part of the new Strategy, the Irish Prison Service is committed to creating a better work environment for staff that promotes positive engagement, open communication, fairness, equality and respect. This approach is underlined by the Irish Prison Service core organisational values of Teamwork, Integrity, Positivity, Safety and Support.
