Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2017
53. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she or the Arts Council received information regarding sexual harassment or bullying in a theatre (details supplied); and her plans to constitute an independent investigation concerning the allegations. [47914/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraLet me assure the Deputy that neither I nor my Department received allegations or information on sexual harassment or bullying in the organisations referred to by the Deputy prior to the recent alarming allegations and reports. Nor am I aware that the Arts Council had received any such information.
The governance of publicly funded theatres, as with all bodies, is a matter for the Board of the theatres themselves. All boards have a duty to ensure that their bodies comply with statutory requirements and to ensure that their staff can work in a safe and respectful environment. In this case I understand that the theatre in question has now brought in a respected independent expert to carry out a review of the allegations that have been made.
However, I have invited the group of eight leaders from Irish theatre organisations, who recently co-signed a statement condemning sexual harassment and abuse of power in the theatre in Ireland, to meet with me and the Arts Council this week. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss ways in which the Department and the Arts Council together can support the sector in creating a safe culture and environment for those working in the industry.
As I have said I believe that working together my Department, the Arts Council and leading members of theatre organisations can encourage a safe and respectful environment free from abuse of power and sexual harassment.
I have also identified a number of actions that I can take as Minister in relation to the bodies reporting to my Department. The intention is to help boards under the aegis of my Department fulfil their functions more effectively, and to support them in ensuring that policies in relation to equality and respect in the workforce operate effectively in line with best practice. These actions include:
- Arranging separate dedicated Governance workshops for board members and senior staff with a particular emphasis on issues relating to bullying, abuse of power and sexual harassment in the workplace;
- Working on a collaborative basis with the Arts Council to make similar training available to other cultural organisations and arts centres around the country at a series of regional information days; and
- Highlighting once again to bodies reporting to the Department the nature of their legal obligations, by seeking assurances of their compliance with obligations under employment legislation.
