Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 762: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason the recommendations of an expert advisory group established in 2004 to examine the issue of bullying have not been implemented to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1896/06]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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In August 2004, my predecessor, Deputy Fahey, established a widely representative expert advisory group on workplace bullying, the terms of reference of which were to advise and report on the effectiveness of measures relating to the prevention of workplace bullying, the identification of improvements in procedures and how to address the contribution made by bullying to the incidence of workplace stress. On 17 August 2005, I launched the group's report, a copy of which is available free of charge on my Department's website, www.entemp.ie. The principles laid down by the group in its report will underpin future consideration of the issue by the Government, as anything less is not acceptable in a fair, safe and equitable workplace.

Following publication of the report, I sought and obtained the views of the social partners on this matter. In addition, in September 2005, as part of the follow up consultation process, my Department, in the national newspapers and on my Department's website, sought the views of interested parties on how best the recommendations of the group might be implemented. Fifteen submissions were received.

My Department is in the process of implementing one of the key recommendations of the expert advisory group which was to conduct a follow-up survey on workplace bullying which is similar to the survey conducted for the last report on this subject, published in 2001, in order to obtain an up-to-date picture of the incidence of workplace bullying. The tender process for the award of a contract to conduct the survey commenced last November but when an insufficient number of proposals was received, it was decided to extend the advertising process to the EU Journal. All the relevant documentation is available on the www.etenders.gov.ie website. I expect the successful tenderer to start the survey in the second quarter of 2006 and to complete it within as short a timescale as possible. I intend to publish the results of the survey, hopefully by the end of this year.

It is essential to have a complete and up-to-date picture of the incidence of the problem in workplaces before submitting proposals to Government for consideration, which I intend to do.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 763: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [1907/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The revised Civil Service policy on harassment, sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace, A Positive Working Environment, which came into effect on 1 September 2005, is the basis for dealing with bullying issues in my Department. This policy, which was launched in October 2005, was circulated to all employees in November 2005. There have been no law cases dealt with or settled in my Department in regard to this issue since 1 January 2000 and there are no outstanding law cases.

In August 2004, the then Minister of State in my Department, Deputy Fahey, established a widely representative expert advisory group on workplace bullying, the terms of reference of which were to advise and report on the effectiveness of measures relating to the prevention of workplace bullying, the identification of improvements in procedures and how to address the contribution made by bullying to the incidence of workplace stress. On 17 August 2005, the Minister of State in my Department, Deputy Killeen, launched the group's report, a copy of which is available free of charge on my Department's website, www.entemp.ie. The principles laid down by the group in its report will underpin future consideration of the issue by the Government.

The key recommendation of the expert advisory group is that legislation be brought forward to deal with workplace bullying. This legislation should apply to all employees in the workforce, irrespective of employment status. Following publication of the report, the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, sought and obtained the views of the social partners and other interested parties on this matter.

My Department is in the process of implementing the group's recommendation to conduct a follow-up survey on workplace bullying which is similar to the survey conducted for the last report on this subject, published in 2001, in order to obtain an up-to-date picture of the incidence of the workplace bullying. The tender process for the award of a contract to conduct the survey is ongoing. I expect the successful tenderer to start the survey in the second quarter of 2006 and to complete it within as short a timescale as possible.

The Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, intends to publish the results of the survey and to bring it to Government along with the views of the social partners and other interested parties for decision on how best to implement the recommendations of the expert advisory group.