Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2004
38 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a departmental investigation into allegations of bullying and cronyism within the cross-Border body, Waterways Ireland, has been conducted by his Department; if the investigation has been concluded, the findings of said investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33322/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn investigation into allegations of bullying and harassment and related matters in Waterways Ireland was carried out, with the consent of the parties involved, by independent investigators appointed jointly by my Department and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in the North. The report of the investigators has been submitted to the Departments and actions to be taken on foot of the report have been raised with the chief executive, both orally and in writing. I do not consider it appropriate to comment further on the matter.
I acknowledge the efforts of the chief executive and staff of Waterways Ireland in advancing the work of this important North-South body, often in complex and difficult circumstances. The promotion of North-South co-operation in areas within my Department's remit remains a high priority for me and I will endeavour to continue to support the work of the North-South bodies for inland waterways and language matters in every way possible.
This allegation was made as long ago as 2002. Was any complaint made to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in regard to it? The matter was raised in the House of Lords by Lord Laird. Without going into the names of the people concerned, will the Minister inform the House whether he is satisfied that the allegation of cronyism was sustained or not?
I do not want to go into the outcome as the issue is under consideration. In January 2003 the Department first became aware of the allegations of patronage, bullying and harassment within Waterways Ireland. There was an informal investigation. A written report containing the findings of that investigation was submitted in November 2004. We have only just got it and the matter is now being considered. The complainant and the person against whom the complaints were made have both been informed in writing of the findings of the investigation. They have been given an opportunity to comment on those findings. We do not want to pre-empt that. The matter is ongoing and not final. Therefore it would be inappropriate to make further comment until the matter is concluded.
I have no problem with regard to not naming people. My point is that it is a serious allegation. The issue is important. Here in the South we spend approximately €32 million per year on this cross-Border body. It is essential that there is credibility in the context of whether there is bullying at the top of the organisation. After the people concerned have commented on it, will the Minister lay the report before the House or can the matter be discussed here again rather than being buried? I am not implying the Minister is burying the issue.
Public interest dictates that we should know exactly what the findings are. I agree that we should wait until the people concerned have commented. However, we want the result on the record, particularly since it concerns a North-South body. We must have due regard to the hoped-for success of the Anglo-Irish and Good Friday Agreements. Co-operation must continue and we must ensure that there is no question but that the highest standards are adhered to by everybody at all times.
I fully accept what the Deputy said. I stress that we have not yet come to the end of the procedure. When it is finished, the Department will decide what action, if any, needs to be taken. Obviously once a definitive decision has been made on whether action should be taken, we will be obliged to explain what decisions were made. However, I do not wish to pre-empt the decision-making process.
I am anxious to marry two requirements, namely, the right of the individual to confidentiality, especially when the process is ongoing, and the need for accountability to the Dáil for public money spent and to ensure that proper procedures were followed by an agency to which, as the Deputy said, we contribute a significant amount of money.
The Deputy can take it from me that we will certainly seek advice and will make public as much information as would be appropriate once a decision has been made. At this stage it is better to let the process come to an end and give the parties a chance to respond to the report of the investigators.
I stress that we are not sitting on this matter and that has been the case at all stages. It is being dealt with in a thorough manner. The Deputy is aware how complicated issues like this can be. We are anxious to bring closure to the matter.
