Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

215. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there have been bullying or sexual harassment claims lodged within her Department in each year since 2011; if so, the number of either complaints on an annual basis, in tabular form; if these complaints have been investigated; the outcome of each investigation; and the policies in place within her department to combat bullying and sexual harassment. [2315/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Dignity at Work policy is the anti-bullying, harassment and sexual harassment policy for the Irish Civil Service. This policy came into effect on 20^thFebruary 2015 and replaced the previous policy, ‘A Positive Working Environment’. State bodies and agencies under the aegis of this Department have similar policies in place. The Dignity at Work policy sets out the responsibilities all individuals have in ensuring a work environment free of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment.

This Department emphasises the use of informal resolution methods and mediation as early as possible during workplace disputes, with formal investigations taking place where these methods of resolution have been exhausted or are not appropriate.

Training on the Dignity At Work policy is provided through the Department’s HR Policies and Procedure course and the Induction and Orientation course for new entrants. The Dignity At Work policy is also available to all staff on the Department’s intranet site, Stór.

There are no figures available for complaints received prior to 2013.

Bullying or Sexual Harassment complaints received in each year since 2013:

Of the 12 complaints investigated, two were upheld.