Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 November 2019
308. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of complaints of bullying and sexual harassment, respectively, received by his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [48043/19]
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 promoting a culture of dignity and mutual respect throughout 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.
There were no complaints under this policy in 2017 and 2018.
There was one complaint of physical harassment in 2019 within an agency of the Department which is currently being investigated under the parameters of the Dignity at Work Policy.
