Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 1492: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government 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. [1915/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Finance policy document, A Positive Working Environment — an Anti Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Bullying Policy for the Civil Service, as revised in July 2005, is being applied in my Department. The revised policy came into effect from 1 September 2005 and has been circulated to all employees of my Department. The earlier central policy document, which was also circulated to all my Department's employees, applied prior to 1 September 2005.

To date, four investigations of allegations have been completed in the case of my Department and, in some of these cases, the investigations involved complaints against more than one individual and counter-allegations were also involved. One investigation is currently in progress.

My Department is aware of the initiation of legal proceedings on behalf of one individual arising from matters of this nature. The above 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 to 2004.