Written answers
Thursday, 29 June 2017
Department of Finance
Bullying in the Workplace
Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that anti-bullying policies are in place in his Department and each State body and agency under his aegis; if such polices are being implemented effectively; the amount paid in compensation for bullying claims in each of the past five years in his Department and each State body and agency under his aegis in tabular form; the action that has been taken to ensure such cases do not arise in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30751/17]
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am satisfied that an anti-bullying policy is in place in the Department of Finance and Bodies under the Aegis of my Department. The Department is guided by the Dignity at Work (the anti-bullying, harassment and sexual harassment) Policy for the Civil Service which was revised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and came into effect in February 2015. This Policy aims to promote respect, dignity, safety and equality in the workplace. It also provides a step by step process for engaging with a complaint made under the Dignity at Work Policy.
The Dignity at Work Policy document is available to all staff and a short summary document on the main features of the policy were issued to all staff and is available on the HR intranet site. There is a module on our Induction training which covers Dignity at Work, and as part of our Governance Framework, there is a common understanding and agreement of organisational values of: integrity, objectivity, impartiality, openness, accountability, and respect and their underlying behaviours under the headings ‘In our Dealings Externally, In our Dealings Internally, In our Dealings with Staff, Constantly Learn, Develop and Improve’ as foundations to a unifying culture for the Department.
The Department is also duty bound under common law as part of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to prevent bullying and provide a workplace free from psychosocial hazards. There are clear legal obligations under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 which are encompassed in the Dignity at Work Policy 2015. Through engagement with staff, the Department has identified that maintaining wellness and wellbeing, both physical and mental, has been seen as a positive contributing factor to attendance, engagement and performance. The Department has run a number of innovative learning initiatives in the area of Health and Safety and physical and mental wellness over the past few years. The goal of these initiatives is to create a more engaged workforce, work towards positive attendance management processes and satisfy Health and Safety legislation.
During the last five years there has been one case where an amount was paid in compensation for a bullying claim within my Department. There is a legal obligation not to disclose the amount paid in compensation due to a Confidentiality Agreement that prohibits disclosure in relation to the Terms of Settlement.
The following is a table detailing the replies from the Bodies under my Aegis.
| Body | Anti-Bullying Policies in place (Y/N) | Anti-Bullying Policies implemented effectively (Y/N) | Amount paid in compensation for bullying claims in each of the past five years | Action taken to ensure such cases do not arise in future |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C&AGs | Y | Y | 2012: Nil 2013:Nil 2014:Nil 2015:Nil 2016:Nil 2017 (YTD) Nil | N/A |
| Central Bank of Ireland | Y | Y | 2012: Nil 2013: Nil 2014: Nil 2015: Nil 2016: Nil 2017 (YTD): Nil | N/A |
| Credit Reviewer | Y* | Y* | 2012: Nil 2013: Nil 2014: Nil 2015: Nil 2016: Nil 2017 (YTD):Nil | *Credit Review Office staff are seconded employees of Enterprise Ireland whose anti bullying policy is incorporated in their Protection of Dignity at Work policy. |
| Credit Union Advisory Committee | As CUAC is a committee of only 3 members set up to advise the Minister it does not have an anti-bullying policy | |||
| Credit Union Restructuring Board | Y | Y | 2012:NIl 2013:-NIl 2014:NIl 2015:NIl 2016:Nil 2017 (YTD):Nil | Rebo is been wind-down at present with only 2 staff members remaining both of whom will finish up at end of July following the dissolution of ReBo. |
| Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal | 2012: 2013: 2014: 2015: 2016: 2017 (YTD): | Nil Response for DDMBA | ||
| Financial Services Ombudsman Bureau | Y | Y | 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017 (YTD): 0 | |
| Financial Services Ombudsman Council | n/a | n/a | 2012: 2013: 2014: 2015: 2016: 2017 (YTD): | |
| Investor Compensation Company Limited | Y | Y | 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017 (YTD): 0 | N/A |
| Irish Bank Resolution Corporation | Y | Y | 2013: Zero 2014: Zero 2015: Zero 2016: Zero 2017 (YTD): Zero Note: The information provided is for the period from 2013 to date. Information prior to the appointment of the Special Liquidator in 2013 is not readily available and the compilation of this information would incur a significant expense given that all legacy systems are no longer operational. | N/A |
| Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal | N - This is a nil reply as IFSAT has no employees | N/A | 2012: N/A 2013: N/A 2014: N/A 2015: N/A 2016: N/A 2017 (YTD): N/A | N/A |
| Irish Fiscal Advisory Council | 2012: 2013: 2014: 2015: 2016: 2017 (YTD): | |||
| National Asset Management Agency | See NTMA response | 2012: 2013: 2014: 2015: 2016: 2017 (YTD): | ||
| National Treasury Management Agency * | Y | Y | 2012: 0.00 2013: 0.00 2014: 0.00 2015: 0.00 2016: 0.00 2017 (YTD): 0.00 | Policy in place |
| Tax Appeals Commissioner | Yes | Yes | 2012: 2013: 2014: 2015: 2016: 2017 (YTD): | The Tax Appeals Commission is governed by rules, policies and procedures including, inter alia, the Civil Service Dignity at Work policy and the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour. As such, these rules and policies are the Commissions advisory platform in relation to bullying. Furthermore, as part of the roll out of updated governance procedures within the Commission, it currently seeking an external Human Resource function to be carried out by a government Department or agency to supplement its day to day management of HR issues. This external HR function will ensure best practice and allow for independence should issues arise. The Commission intends to review and update, where necessary, its procedures including those in relation to bullying during this process. |
| Office of the Revenue Commissioners | Y | Y | 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017 (YTD): 0 | Not applicable |
| Social Finance Foundation | Y | Y | 2012: Nil 2013: Nil 2014: Nil 2015: Nil 2016: Nil 2017 (YTD): Nil | Ongoing management |
| Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland State Board | 2012: 2013: 2014: 2015: 2016: 2017 (YTD): | We have been advised that the NTMA will respond to this PQ on behalf of the SBCI. |
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