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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 09, 2019

QUESTION NO.21

QUESTION: Councillor Mary Seery-Kearney

To ask the Chief Executive to comment and/or report on whether Council employees, agents or subcontractors have been subjected to any intimidation, threats including requests for protection money, during the course of carrying out their duties acting on behalf of the Council.

REPLY:

It is the unfortunate reality that council employees are often subjected to intimidation and threats owing to the nature of our work. Every effort is made to ensure that all staff are fully trained and supported in how to prevent and manage such situations both during and in the aftermath, and in conjunction with their line manager, to identify appropriate measures that should be taken to mitigate the likelihood of a reoccurrence, where this is possible. This is supplemented by having a comprehensive safety management system operational across the organisation, that protects and provides for employees’ safety, health and welfare at work as far as is reasonably practicable. Similarly within the procurement process, all tenderers must provide information which demonstrates the operation of health and safety systems and procedures in line with all relevant Safety Health and Welfare at Work legislation for each employee, as well as for any sub-contractors, agents or representatives.