Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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151. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if bullying or sexual harassment claims have been lodged in his Department in each year since 2011; if so, the number of complaints in each category 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. [2308/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Civil Service is committed to protecting dignity and respect across the organisation and my Department implements the Civil Service wide anti-bullying, harassment and sexual harassment policy ‘Dignity at Work’. I am satisfied that the policy is being implemented effectively throughout my Department. This policy came into effect on 20/2/2015, and replaced the previous policy called ‘A Positive Working Environment’ for all Civil Service employees, except for State Industrial employees, for whom the ‘A Positive Working Environment – Anti-Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Bullying Policy for State Industrial Employees’ applies.

All staff in my Department are reminded annually of their responsibilities under the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, which includes the duty to show due respect for their colleagues at work and to abide by the Civil Service anti-bullying policy. Furthermore, all new recruits to my Department are required to familiarise themselves with both the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour and the Dignity at Work policy.

From time to time staff have raised a variety of issues regarding workplace difficulties. All issues raised are carefully considered under the Dignity at Work policy.

Since 2011,18 cases of alleged workplace difficulties have been received by Human Resources Division. Of these 18 cases, 4 cases met the criteria for bullying as defined in the Dignity at Work policy and were investigated. Following investigations, two complaints were upheld and two complaints were not upheld.

Mediation is recommended across the Civil Service as a mechanism to facilitate the resolution of workplace difficulties. Mediation attempts to create workable agreements between parties to create a positive working environment for all. My Department actively promotes mediation at an early stage when workplace difficulties first arise.