Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020
73. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has received allegations of sexual harassment at third level; his plans to extend consent information across third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43152/20]
View answerOur higher education institutions have a duty of care to their students and staff, and a responsibility to foster a campus culture that is clear in the condemnation of unwanted and unacceptable behaviours, which act as barriers to their safety and their active participation in college life.
I have received correspondence with allegations of sexual harassment and bullying in respect of both staff and students within higher education institutions and I am greatly concerned by these issues.
I have written to the Chair of the relevant institution’s Governing Authority on the communications that I received from some staff members and former students, so that these might inform the oversight by the Governing Authority of the important work underway to eliminate sexual harassment and bullying, and improve the environment for students and staff.
I believe that the perspectives of staff and students on these issues should be given appropriate consideration by institutions, with a view to ensuring effective and inclusive processes in their bullying, harassment and sexual harassment policies and procedures.
In August 2020 I wrote to the Presidents of all publicly funded higher education institutions requesting that they develop and publish, by February 2021, specific institutional action plans on tackling sexual violence and harassment. These action plans will involve the implementation of systems that record the number of incidents of bullying, intimidation or harassment including sexual harassment.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has oversight of the Framework for Consent in HEIs, and these statistics will be reported annually to the HEA once the action plans in each institution are in place.
I have also requested that a survey be undertaken on harassment, sexual harassment and bullying of both staff and students in the higher education institutions, on which the planning has commenced.
I am committed to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all staff and students in our Higher Education Institutions, and the steps I am undertaking, I believe, will contribute significantly to the realisation of this objective.
