Consultancy Contracts Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018

Tuesday, 24 July 2018

Ceisteanna (2599)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

2599. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an audit of all external workplace investigations conducted by companies (details supplied) will be provided; the outcome regarding complaints against her Department; when the investigation will commence of an allegation against an employee, that is, the number of occasions on which a complaint was upheld against her Department by the investigators; and the number of occasions on which an investigation against an employee found grounds for disciplinary action. [35371/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

My Department accesses the Office of Government Procurement’s Framework for External Workplace Investigation Services who provide external formal workplace investigation services. Any staff member who is subject to such an investigation is kept informed of each step in the process and would be notified of the commencement of the investigation.

This framework does not cater for the investigation of complaints against my Department itself.

Investigations under the framework are carried out following a mini-tendering competition between the three companies which is managed by the Office for Government Procurement. Typically the investigation will commence shortly after the contract for the service has been signed by the successful tenderer and my Department.

Since the commencement of this framework there have been 8 investigations into possible breaches of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour and the Dignity at Work Policy by members of staff in my department. There were two occasions in which allegations of misconduct led to disciplinary action following the investigations.