Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

An investigation into allegations of bullying, harassment and related matters in Waterways Ireland has been jointly carried out, with the consent of the parties involved, by independent investigators appointed by my Department and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in the North. The report of the investigators has been submitted to the Departments and its conclusions and recommendations have been considered and accepted by both.

On 4 April 2005, my Department and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure issued a joint statement on the matter. The statement was copied by my office to the Deputy on that date. In line with the normal confidentiality that applies to personnel matters, the Departments stated that they do not propose to publish the report of the investigators. However, their joint statement included a summary of the findings of the investigators, as well as the actions to be taken following the findings, as agreed by the Departments with the chief executive of Waterways Ireland. It is not proposed to make any further comment about the investigation.

However, I reiterate that I welcome this opportunity to again acknowledge the efforts of the chief executive and staff of Waterways Ireland in advancing the work of this important North-South body, often in complex and difficult circumstances. As I stated in the House in December 2004, the promotion of North-South co-operation in areas within my Department's remit remains a high priority for me and I will continue to support the work of the North-South bodies responsible for inland waterways and language matters in particular in every way possible.

See this speech in context