Written answers

Wednesday, 25 January 2006

Department of Health and Children

Bullying in the Workplace

8:00 pm

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 423: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the policy to deal with bullying in her Department; if same has been circulated to all employees; if there are outstanding law cases regarding the issue by employees; if cases were dealt with or settled since 1 January 2000, and if so, the number of same; if her Department has legislation dealing with the issue of bullying or plans to introduce such legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1902/06]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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My Department's policy regarding the issue of bullying is the implementation of the revised anti-harassment, sexual harassment and bullying policy for the Civil Service, A Positive Working Environment, which came into effect on 1 September 2005. The summary leaflet on this policy has been circulated to all staff and the main report is available on request. Earlier this month, a two-day course was provided to train eight members of staff to act as contact persons, as defined in the revised policy, and a further two-day course will be run in early February for bullying and harassment investigator training. There are no outstanding law cases regarding the issue within my Department and, since 2001, there has been one case which was resolved at the investigation stage.

The revised policy is designed to ensure compliance with the codes of practice issued under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, the Industrial Relations Act 1990 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998 and 2004. Given that existing legislation covering bullying and harassment is more than adequate, I see no purpose in bringing forward more legislation in this area.

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