Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

246. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that anti-bullying policies are in place in his Department and in 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 in 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. [30747/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Dignity At Work Policy was introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in 2015 across the Civil Service to promote respect, dignity, safety, and equality in the workplace.  The main purpose of this policy is to ensure all members of staff should be aware that any form of bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment are unacceptable and every member of staff has a duty to behave in an acceptable and respectful manner.

The Human Resources section in my Department provided information sessions to staff across the Department in 2015 and 2016 providing awareness of the Policy,  their obligations under the Policy and the process to be undertaken where individuals believe that they have been bullied, harassed, or sexually harassed. All new staff recruited to my Department are informed of their obligations under the Policy as part of the Department's induction training programme.

No compensation claims for bullying have been received in my Department over the past five years.

The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency.  The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.