Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make the report on the allegation of bullying during the trainee examiners' course in November 2007 available; if he will act on the reports recommendations; if he will issue an apology to each of the participants on the course; if he will award all participants on the trainee examiners course with an honorary pass; if he will publicly recognise the unnecessary pain and suffering endured by the candidates on that course; if he will give an undertaking to all the volunteers in the Irish Water Safety that such behaviour will not be tolerated in the future; if he will set up a departmental committee to examine the reason the same persons have been on the national council of IWS for 20 years or more; the further reason the officers and committee members of the local water safety area committees have been resident on such committees for the past 15 years, 20 years or more; the reason the national council of IWS is unable to control or direct the local area water safety committee to carry out the instructions of the national council of IWS, particularly in relation to the organisation and running of a water safety week; the reason a trainee instructor, or instructor is unable to participate fully in the organisation and running of IWS, similar to the manner in which an examiner in IWS is allowed participate in the organisation and running of IWS; the reason the Dublin water safety area committee has been allowed to treat this Deputy unfairly at local level in so far as this Deputy is unable to teach the IWS syllabus at a pool (details supplied) in Dublin 7 during the year 2009-2010. [18066/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I can confirm that the investigation referred to was carried out and its report, which is a matter in the first instance for the Council of Irish Water Safety (IWS), is to be considered at the meeting of the Council on 5 May 2010. The Council will need an opportunity to consider the implications of the report and decide on the appropriate course of action to follow.

Irish Water Safety was reconstituted under the Irish Water Safety (Establishment) Order 2006. Article 6 (4) provides that 'the Council shall consist of not more than thirteen members appointed by the Minister of whom five shall be representatives of local water safety interests.' This provision allows for volunteers to be elected by the officers of the area committee for nomination to the Board.

There are 30 Water Safety Area Committees under the auspices of Irish Water Safety. These Committees organise a programme of events, courses and water safety promotional activities each year. The Committees are made up of volunteers and operate under the guidance of IWS. There is no reason why any volunteer cannot participate fully in the organisation subject to its rules of membership. My Department will raise the matter of St Joseph's Pool with IWS and I will provide a follow-up reply as soon as possible to the Deputy.