Written answers

Thursday, 16 June 2022

Department of Rural and Community Development

Departmental Policies

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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563. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit that operate in direct contact with members of the public have policies in place for members of the public to report instances of sexual harassment or assault that occur on the property of her Department or public body and agency under her remit; if so, if these policies are publicly accessible on the relevant website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31749/22]

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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564. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit have policies in place for employees to report instances of sexual harassment or assault that occur involving other employees or members of the public or on the property of her Department or each public body and agency that operate under her remit; if so, if these policies are publicly accessible on the relevant website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31768/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 564 together.

The Civil Service is committed to protecting the dignity and respect of staff across all organisations. My Department operates under the Dignity at Work policy which is the centralised Anti-Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy for all of the Irish civil service.

The policy aims to promote respect, dignity, safety and equality in the workplace. The policy has been brought to the attention of all staff and a copy of the policy at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/circular/eaf3ec8c24904a08905f4c2d142f97cc/

This policy sets out how employees of my department can make reports of sexual harassment or assaults that may occur by another department employee.

While my Department does not have a specific policy for making sexual harassment or assaults reports for members of the public, any such reports can be made in line with our customer service policy which is published on the my Department's website, and can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/94a93a-customer-service/

In respect of the bodies under the aegis of my Department, information relating to polices in those bodies is a matter for the entities concerned.

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