Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Durkan for the question. I am greatly concerned by the issues of both sexual harassment and bullying that have emerged in respect of both staff and students within higher education institutions.  

Our higher education institutions, HEIs, should be and must be a place of inclusivity, tolerance, respect and quality. Our higher education institutions have a duty of care to their students and staff, and a responsibility to foster a campus culture that is clear in the condemnation of unwanted and unacceptable behaviours, which act as a barrier to their safety and their active participation in college or work life.

On 4 August 2020, in my first letter to university presidents, I wrote to the presidents of all publicly funded higher education institutions and I have requested that they develop and publish, by February 2021, specific institutional action plans on tackling sexual violence and harassment. We can have all the frameworks we want but we need specific plans for individual institutions. What will they do to make their campus deal appropriately with any issues of bullying, sexual harassment or violence? These action plans will involve the implementation of systems that record the number of incidents of bullying, intimidation or harassment including sexual harassment. I have given the Higher Education Authority a new role in overseeing the framework for consent in regard to HEIs and statistics will be reported annually to the HEA once the action plans in each institution are in place.

I have also requested that a survey be undertaken on harassment, sexual harassment and bullying of both staff and students in higher education institutions. The planning of this survey has commenced, and the HEA is consulting with the Irish Universities Association and the Technological Higher Education Association in this regard.

We will have legislation before this House, probably in the new year, on how we overhaul governance of this sector. I believe that is badly needed and there will be a chance for us to debate how best to ensure there is legislative protection and proper governance and oversight of institutions also. I want the Deputy to know that I am extremely committed to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all staff and students in our higher education institutions and I hope the steps I am undertaking upon entering office will help to contribute significantly to the realisation of this objective.

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