Johnny Brady (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if in view of recent media reports which reveal that a seven-month UCC governing body sub-committee investigation into allegations of bullying and harassment was not co-operated with by complainants, she has plans to introduce a system which investigates allegations to the full, make a clear determination on them and insist that complainants, under the terms of their employment, are obliged to co-operate with such a system; and her views on whether the existing system is not effective and can lead to lingering reputation damage to both persons, universities here and higher education institutions without the matter ever being cleared up. [43325/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that issues relating to the staff of a university, other than pay and conditions, are matters within the remit of the university itself. Each university is required to have in place adequate staff grievance procedures, including procedures for investigating allegations of bullying. My Department does not have a role in putting such procedures in place.

I am informed, however, by the Higher Education Authority that such procedures are in place in all the universities and in general are effective. The strength of any such procedures lies in the preparedness of all concerned to co-operate fully with them.