Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As I outlined to the House in my reply to Question 38 of 14 December 2004, a joint investigation into allegations of bullying and harassment and related matters in Waterways Ireland was 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 was submitted to the Departments and actions to be taken on foot of the report have been agreed with the chief executive of Waterways Ireland.

The issue of a joint statement by the Departments in the matter is under consideration. I will arrange for a copy of any such statement to be supplied to the Deputy.

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 last December, the promotion of North-South co-operation in areas within my Department's remit remains a high priority for me and I will continue, in particular, to support the work of the North-South bodies responsible for inland waterways and language matters in every way possible.