Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2018
204. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there have been bullying or sexual harassment claims lodged within his Department in each year since 2011; if so, the number of either complaints on an annual basis, in tabular form; if these complaints have been investigated; the outcome of each investigation; and the policies in place within his Department to combat bullying and sexual harassment. [2322/18]
View answerThe Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland.
The Department is committed to protecting dignity and respect across the organisation. The key policy in place in this regard is the Dignity at Work Policy. This policy outlines the procedures in place and the steps which individuals may take if they believe that they have been bullied, harassed, or sexually harassed. All staff are made aware of the contents of this policy and the procedures to be followed, as part of the induction process for new employees. This ensures that all members of staff are aware that all forms of bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment are unacceptable and that every staff member has a duty to behave in an acceptable and respectful manner.
In addition staff may be referred by the Department's HR Manager to the Civil and Public Service Mediation Service, as a means to resolve complaints of bullying and harassment, as appropriate, where local efforts to resolve complaints have been exhausted.
There have been no bullying or sexual harassment claims made since the formation of the Department, to date.
