Departmental Policies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 June 2022

Thursday, 16 June 2022

Questions (364, 365)

Holly Cairns

Question:

364. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit that operate in direct contact with members of the public have policies in place for members of the public to report instances of sexual harassment or assault that occur on the property of his Department or each public body and agency under his remit; if so, if these policies are publicly accessible on the relevant website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31743/22]

Holly Cairns

Question:

365. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit have policies in place for employees to report instances of sexual harassment or assault that occur involving other employees or members of the public or on the property of his Department or each public body and agency that operate under his remit; if so, if these policies are publicly accessible on the relevant website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31762/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 364 and 365 together.

The Department of Foreign Affairs examines all formal complaints made to its HR Unit notwithstanding the category they fall under. Complaints in relation sexual harassment and assault are addressed under the Dignity at Work: An Anti-Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy for the Irish Civil Service policy, which is available on gov.ie.

Additionally, the Department has a Safeguarding Policy which outlines the principles, expectations and requirements of DFA staff and DFA partners in relation to safeguarding in the delivery of DFA business regarding child safeguarding as well as the prevention, mitigation and response to sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. It also sets out the steps to be taken if a staff member, a partner, a service-user or a member of the public has a safeguarding concern. This policy is available on the Department’s intranet site.

The Department does not have any public bodies or agencies under its remit.

Question No. 365 answered with Question No. 364.