Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Harkin for raising this issue. We can talk about mental health in a general sense, and it is important that we do so, but the sexual harassment and sexual violence taking place in our institutions must be called out by all of us. It is an issue for both students and staff. I intend to approach this with a degree of priority and focus that may not have been there in the past. My predecessor, Mary Mitchell O'Connor, started some really good work on this issue and I want to build on that.

I have several ministerial vacancies on governing authorities. Starting as early as today, the type of people I will appoint to those governing authorities will send a very clear message to anybody in a leadership position. My representatives, the representatives of the people of Ireland on those governing authorities, will be there to keep an eye on those issues and ask questions in that regard. We must do more. Our general frameworks are important but how they are implemented in the institutions is key. I have written to each university president to state that within six months, he or she must produce an action plan for dealing with this issue in his or her institution. The HEA will oversee its implementation. This is a big issue. It is not confined to third level, but it is a challenge in this sector and we must address it.

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