Dr. Clive Kilgallen:

I thank the Deputy. The IMO has started to address the issue. We conducted a gender-based survey of the experience of our members. There is bullying. Some 26% of our female respondents and 21% of our male respondents have had some experience of bullying in the past two years. Some 27% of women and 5% of men have experienced gender-based harassment. It is out there and women are more affected.

There needs to be a cultural change. There are difficulties on the ground because we are short of staff and face a lack of resources. We know about that. However, no matter the workplace, people have to respect each other and treat each other with absolute respect. Everybody working in the hospital environment and all grades of staff should be able to come to work and feel safe and respected. We need to be in that position. The IMO will address the issue in a meeting towards the end of this month. We will address gender-based issues. All genders are involved. We are also going to do some bystander training. That is where we are starting. There needs to be a cultural shift in the working environment whereby everybody feels respected.