Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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138. To ask the Minister for Health if there have been bullying or sexual harassment claims lodged within his Department in each year since 2011; if so, the number of either type of complaint on an annual basis, in tabular form; if these complaints have been investigated; the outcome of each investigation; and the policies in place within his department to combat bullying and sexual harassment [2318/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health, like all Government Departments, is committed to protecting dignity and respect across the organisation. In that regard, the Dignity at Work Policy has been developed in partnership between Civil Service management and staff unions through the Equality Sub Committee of General Council. It aims to promote respect, dignity, safety, and equality in the workplace. Every member of staff in my Department is aware that all forms of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment are unacceptable and every member of staff has a duty to behave in an acceptable and respectful manner.

There have been two sexual harassment claims lodged within my Department since 2011. One was lodged in 2015 and a resolution was mediated by HR locally. The second case was lodged in 2017 and an investigation is ongoing.