Departmental Policies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 June 2022

Thursday, 16 June 2022

Questions (559)

Holly Cairns

Question:

559. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [31736/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Complaints of the nature referenced by the Deputy would be, and are, taken with the utmost seriousness. The primary recourse for any offences of such a particularly serious nature would naturally be matters for investigation by An Garda Síochana in the first instance.

Other complaints would be covered generally under my Department's Customer Complaints procedures which are available on its website at gov.ie - Customer Service (www.gov.ie).

With respect to the bodies under my aegis, I will make arrangements for the matter to be forwarded to them with a view to a direct reply to the Deputy .