Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of cases of bullying of health board employees either formally or informally investigated by each health board in each of the years 2002, 2003 and to date in 2004. [27297/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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My Department does not hold information on the number of bullying cases formally or informally investigated by health boards or the Eastern Regional Health Authority. Responsibility for human resource management, including the matter referred to by the Deputy, in each health board or the authority rests with the relevant chief executive officer. My Department has therefore requested the CEO of each health board and the authority to respond to the Deputy directly.

However, the Deputy may wish to note that the dignity at work policy for the health service came into effect on 1 May 2004. This policy was agreed between the HSEA, representing health service employers, and the health service trade unions. This new policy incorporates appropriate best practice drawn from the Health and Safety Authority's prevention of workplace bullying code of practice, the Labour Relations Commission's procedures for addressing bullying in the workplace and the Equality Authority's Sexual Harassment and Harassment at Work policy document.

Training, which is supported by the health services national partnership forum, is taking place on the implementation of the policy in all public health service agencies.