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Departmental Policies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 June 2022

Thursday, 16 June 2022

Ceisteanna (233, 234)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

233. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under her 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 her Department or each public body and agency under her remit; if so, if these policies are publicly accessible on the relevant website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31751/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

234. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under her 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 her Department or each public body and agency that operate under her remit; if so, if these policies are publicly accessible on the relevant website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31770/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department is committed to protecting dignity and respect across the organisation. Under the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, all staff in my Department are obliged to treat colleagues and members of the public with dignity and respect to observe and support civil service policy on harassment, sexual harassment and bullying.

Complaints regarding bullying (including physical aggressive behaviour, unwelcome physical contact up to and including assault), harassment or sexual harassment are extremely serious, and it is policy that these are treated as such by Management and that criminal allegations will be reported to An Garda Síochána.

Members of the public may use the Department’s formal complaints procedure to raise any concerns or complaints they may have, all which will be dealt with promptly and in confidence. Details for making a formal complaint are available on the Department’s website - www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/93f51-customer-service/#complaints-procedure.

The Department has a duty to promote the safety and well-being of children with whom it is in contact in any capacity and adheres to the recommendations of Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children. The Department’s Child Protection Policy and Children First: Sectoral Implementation Plan are both available on the Department’s website: www.gov.ie/en/publication/8f1d1e-child-protection/

I am also assured that the Civil Service Dignity at Work policy,is implemented in my Department. All staff receive training and the policy includes procedures for addressing and dealing with complaints. Complaints may also be dealt with under the provisions of the Civil Service Disciplinary Code (19/2016). All staff receive a copy of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, Dignity at Work policy and the Disciplinary Code Circular (19/2016) and are required to sign and confirm they have read these.

These documents are available on the Department's Intranet for staff and also on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website: hr.per.gov.ie/en/

In respect of State Bodies under the Department's remit, the following information has been provided, set out in tabular form below:

State Body

Policies in place to report instances of sexual harassment or assault

Website/Other

Arts Council

Yes, relevant policies sit within Arts Council Corporate Governance

Yes

Chester Beatty Library

Yes

Yes. Chester Beatty’s Child Protection and Welfare Policy and Child Safeguarding Statement are on the website.

Information is also contained in relevant sections of our Employee Handbook

Crawford Art Gallery

Yes

Yes

Foras na Gaeilge

Yes

No

Fáilte Ireland

Yes

No

Irish Museum of Modern Art

IMMA has developed a Dignity at Work Policy which provides a mechanism for staff members to be able to report instances of harassment, bullying, sexual harassment and assault.

Customer Charter is available on the public website

National Concert Hall

Yes

No

National Gallery of Ireland

This policy covers all employees and volunteers. The Gallery has ensured that all staff and volunteers have had the opportunity to attend Dignity at Work training. This policy is widely available internally on our intranet and in the Gallery’s Employee handbook.

Members of the public can raise any concerns through the complaints procedure which is publicly accessible.

Yes

National Library of Ireland

Dignity in the Workplace policies are in place in the NLI to take into account any potential instance of sexual harassment or assault

Yes

National Museum of Ireland

Yes

Yes

Screen Ireland

Yes - Dignity at Workplace policy recently updated

Available on Internal Staff Portal

Sport Ireland

Yes

No

Tha Boord o Ulster Scotch

Dignity at Work Policy which covers various types of harassment including sexual harassment and subsequent procedures relating to involvements by colleagues, staff from other departments, volunteers and members of the public.

Yes

Tourism Ireland

Dignity and Respect in the workplace policy

No

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Yes

No

In relation to the following public bodies (Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, RTÉ and TG4), this is an operational matter for these bodies concerned, Section 24 and Section 98 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the independence in the performance of their functions. I have accordingly referred the Deputy's question for direct reply. I ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.

Question No. 234 answered with Question No. 233.

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