Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

21. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has investigated the allegations made regarding inappropriate sexual behaviour in the National Museum of Ireland; and if a case of inappropriate sexual behaviour was referred to the human resources section in her Department. [11788/17]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Mar is eol don Aire, tá foireann Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann ag fulaingt faoi scamall dorcha le fada. Tá a fhios againn go raibh go leor líomhaintí ann faoi mhí-iompar gnéis, faoi bhulaíocht agus faoi bhainistíocht trom-láimhe. Is rud tromchúiseach é gur tharla na rudaí seo in eagraíocht Stáit agus go raibh oibrí an Stáit ag fulaingt gan faic á dhéanamh ag an Rialtas. An raibh a fhios ag an Aire cad a bhí ag titim amach san Ard-Mhúsaem? An bhfuair an tAire an t-eolas faoi? An bhfuair a Roinn tuairisc faoin mhí-iompar gnéis agus an ndearna an tAire iniúchadh faoi?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will answer the question put forward to me. Unfortunately, I was not able to pick up all the Deputy said in his introduction, as he well knows.

I am advised my Department has not received any allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour in the National Museum of Ireland, nor has any investigation of such allegations been undertaken. In April 2012, my predecessor was in receipt of correspondence relating to general staff issues at the National Museum of Ireland.

While it would not be appropriate for me to intervene directly in human resources, HR, issues, the Deputy should be aware that I and senior officials have had discussions with the chair of the museum on legacy staffing issues recently referred to in the media. On foot of these discussions, I have also been assured that steps are being taken to address the issues highlighted in the well-being survey, also recently highlighted in the media, which was commissioned by the museum to improve its working environment.

I am supportive of the chair and the new board, which I appointed in July 2016, in implementing change in the museum, as well as preparing new plans to improve the museum's services to the public over the coming years. I have offered to provide any additional support if required in dealing with these issues.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ar dtús, ba mhaith a rá go dtacaím freisin leis an gcathaoirleach den bhord------

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Gabh mo leithsceal. Tá córas aistriúcháin ar fáil.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is féidir liom fanacht go dtí go bhfuil an tAire réidh.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To be fair.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

An bhfuil an corás aistriúcháin ag obair? Níl a fhios agam.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is é seo lá na Gaeilge agus bhí sé réitithe cheana féin ag gach duine go mbeadh seans ag Baill labhairt as Gaeilge sa Dáil.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tá brón orm. Níl-----

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tá an córas ag obair.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tá sé ag obair.Fanfaidh mé go dtí go bhfuil sé réidh.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tá an córas aistriúcháin ag obair. It is working.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

An bhfuil sé ag obair duit anois? An gcloiseann tú aon rud?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ní chloisim.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Níl aon aistriúchán ann, is dócha.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Dúirt an fear-----

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Dúirt an fear go bhfuil.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Dúirt an tAire nach bhfuil.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Beidh ormsa leanúint ar aghaidh as Béarla mar sin. Is mór an trua é sin. Níl ach lá amháin sa bhliain go bhfuil deis againn ár gcuid gnó a dhéanamh as Gaeilge. Is rud simplí atá ann. Is féidir é a dhéanamh sa Bhruiséil.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tá sé-----

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

An bhfuil sé ag obair anois?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

B'fhéidir. Níl a fhios agam.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Éist ar uimhir a haon. Number one.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Labhair arís.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tacaím go huile is go hiomlán leis an gcathaoirleach ar an mbord sin. Bhí a fhios ag an Aire le fada go raibh rudaí ag titim amach san Ard-Mhúsaem. In ainneoin go bhfuaireamar an t-eolas sin-----

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tá sé ann anois.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Cad é?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tá sé ann anois.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In ainneoin go bhfuaireamar an t-eolas ón Aire nach bhfuair siad eolas faoi seo, tá fhios agam gur fuair oifig an Aire glaoch gutháin i mí Meitheamh 2015 mar gheall ar an rud seo. Tá fhios agam freisin ón bhfoireann a bhí ann ag an am gur chuir an fhoireann sin an t-eolas os comhair na Roinne mar choimeád siad cóip istigh sa National Museum freisin. An bhfuil an tAire ag tabhairt eolas míchruinn dúinne, mar tá an t-eolas atá ag an Aire iomlán difriúil ná an t-eolas atá faighte agamsa ón bhfoireann atá istigh ann agus daoine eile a bhfuil baint acu leis?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Just to be very clear, I am not giving anybody wrong information. A number of different issues have been outlined from different sources and I want to clear the record. First, there was a consultant's report in 2012 which was referred to the Department at that time. Human resources, HR, issues were mentioned in it and that was a matter for the museum. A new board was appointed to the museum in July 2016. A well-being survey was commissioned last autumn and it is now dealing with HR issues in the museum and any legacy issues. The board and the director of the museum, therefore, are dealing with those issues. As I said, the well-being survey outlined a number of issues and it is on that basis that the board and the director will address the HR issues in the museum.

I want to be clear that it is not my job to get involved in HR issues. I am very clear about that. It is the responsibility of the museum. The museum has a new board and a new chairperson. It is a very good board with a very capable chairperson and there is also the director of the museum. That is their responsibility.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

With regard to the case of the individual who is on administrative leave, it is my understanding that a report was sent to the Minister's Department, that there is a copy of that report in the National Museum and that this report was destroyed in the Department. It is also my information that a protected disclosure was made to the National Museum but there is no record of a protected disclosure on the Department's records or on the National Museum's records. The stand-off that exists between the Minster and the Department and the museum is very difficult to understand given that two cases were settled in the High Court around this issue.

Given that with respect to the cases with regard to heavy-handed management and bullying, a telephone call was made to the Minister's office in June 2015 about this issue, and given the fact that all these reports have come to light, it is not credible that the Minister would say that it is not her responsibility to fix this particular problem. Hundreds of thousands of euro have been spent on High Court settlements, psychotherapists and on all those reports that were carried out, and State workers have been working in a dysfunctional environment where they have not felt safe for a number of years. It is the responsibility of the Minister to come up with the goods in that scenario.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I repeat that I am advised that my Department has not received any allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour and I am not aware of any protected disclosures. What I can say, however, is that an official in my Department received a telephone call approximately two years ago during the course of which the same issues were raised that had been previously written about to my predecessor regarding the report of 2012. I did not ignore the matter. This is a HR issue. I am not getting involved in HR issues. As the Deputy knows, HR is a specialised area for specialists. In fairness to the board of the museum, I respect the chairperson and the new board and the work they are doing at the museum. It is not appropriate for me to get involved in HR issues. It is a matter for the director and the board. It is not my role. I will not get involved in issues relating to HR. What is more, I have no proof that the museum is spending, or wasting, the type of money the Deputy mentioned on those matters. I have outlined clearly that I have no role in staff management at the museum.