Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 1 July 2008, the cost to the Health Service Executive in each of the HSE areas of investigating, processing and compensating where appropriate, cases of bullying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32901/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As previously indicated to you in response to Parliamentary Question no. 272 of 1 July 2008, under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to have delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services in a safe and secure setting. This includes responsibility for dealing with any complaints an employee may have concerning his or her working environment. As the Executive was the appropriate body to consider the matter raised by the Deputy, my Department requested that the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.

I am informed by the HSE that a reply issued directly to the Deputy on 16 July 2008, which contained information about the number of alleged bullying cases currently active, the number of cases resolved and the number of cases which have proceeded to arbitration during 2007. Information was also provided about the Dignity and Work Policy which was introduced across the organisation in 2004. As the HSE continue to be the appropriate body to answer the further queries raised by the Deputy on this matter, my Department has again requested that the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued to the Deputy.