Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 550: To ask the Minister for Finance the policy to deal with bullying in his 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 his Department has legislation dealing with the issue of bullying or plans to introduce such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1903/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The policy in my Department in respect of bullying, as it is throughout the Civil Service, is contained in a document entitled A Positive Working Environment — An Anti-Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Bullying Policy for the Civil Service. The document, which was revised in July 2005 and came into effect on 1 September 2005, was produced by my Department in partnership with the staff unions through the equality sub-committee of General Council. The 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, the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2004.

All staff, including staff on contract, were made aware of the revised policy and were issued with information leaflets outlining the contents of the policy. The full document is contained in the Department's website and on the Department's intranet. There are no outstanding law cases in my Department regarding the issue of bullying by employees, nor have there been any such law cases settled or dealt with since 1 January 2000. Any complaints of bullying are investigated and resolved in accordance with the policy document outlined above. There is no specific legislation governing the issue of bullying, and at present, there are no plans in my Department to introduce any.