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11 Jan 2005 : Column WA27
Written Answers
Tuesday, 11 January 2005.
Northern Ireland Civil Service: Interview Panels
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether interview panels within the Northern Ireland Civil Service are given details of sick leave records or educational qualifications of any candidates. [HL379]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): Sick leave records are not made available to interview panels. Candidates with an unacceptable level of sick absence are not invited to interview.
Details of educational qualifications are not provided to interview panels for general service promotion competitions. However, for some departmental or trawl competitions to fill vacancies in specialist grades, interview panels are provided with details of candidates' educational qualifications.
Northern Ireland Assembly:Selection of Executive
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will call a meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly to select an Executive comprising only those parties who are committed to democratic means. [HL458]
Baroness Amos: We shall end the suspension of the devolved institutions once there is a political foundation for resumed devolved government. The Northern Ireland Assembly would meet once suspension was lifted. The selection of the Executive would follow according to the arrangements set out in the Northern Ireland Act 1998; the Secretary of State has no general power to specify which parties would be involved.
Waterways Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the terms of the investigation into allegations of bullying, harassment and mismanagement at Waterways Ireland; and what period the investigation covered. [HL461]
Baroness Amos: Independent investigators were appointed by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs jointly to carry out a thorough, detailed and impartial investigation into allegations by a member of staff of Waterways Ireland of bullying and harassment and allegations questioning recruitment and promotion practices in the body and
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to recommend whether further action is required. The investigation covered the period from April 2000 to December 2003.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What qualifications were specified in the recruitment of the Chief Executive and Director of Waterways Ireland; and how many applications there were for each post. [HL489]
Baroness Amos: The number of applications for each post, according to records held by the consultants appointed in the recruiting process, were as follows:
The above posts were subject to open competition and the specifications for each post have been placed in the Library.
The post of Director of Marketing and Communications at Waterways Ireland was not filled by open competition and I would refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 12 October 2004 (WA 49 and WA 50).
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
On what date the Northern Ireland Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure became aware of allegations of staff bullying, harassment and mismanagement at Waterways Ireland; and on what date an investigation was authorised. [HL490]
Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 12 October 2004 (col. WA 50).
The sponsor departments for Waterways Ireland, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in the South compiled the terms of reference for an investigation. This was put to the concerned parties in June 2003. The investigation was authorised when these terms were accepted by them in July 2003.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the investigation into harassment and bullying at Waterways Ireland, all the 21 staff who complained (a) had their cases investigated; and (b) were interviewed; and what were the results of the investigation. [HL516]
Baroness Amos: The complaint that has been investigated concerns allegations made by one member of staff at Waterways Ireland. He (a) has had
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his case investigated and (b) was interviewed. A report on the investigation has been completed and it is being acted upon by the two sponsor departments and by Waterways Ireland.
A further 20 members of staff have collectively alleged bullying and harassment at Waterways Ireland. This complaint will be dealt with by the body under internal procedures.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether all the complainants in the investigation into staff harassment and bullying at Waterways Ireland have been informed in writing of all the findings of the investigation; and, if so, on what date. [HL519]
Baroness Amos: The complainant, who alleged harassment and bullying at Waterways Ireland, was informed in writing of the findings of the investigation on 3 December 2004.
A further 20 staff made a collective allegation of harassment and bullying at Waterways Ireland and this will be dealt with by the body under internal procedures.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to take any action against those concerned in the allegations of staff harassment and bullying at Waterways Ireland in advance of their responses to the results of the investigation. [HL520]
Baroness Amos: The report into allegations of bullying and harassment at Waterways Ireland which takes account of the responses of the individuals concerned is now complete and it is being acted upon by both sponsor departments and by the body.
Côte d'Ivoire: Arms Shipments
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): Since the imposition of a United Nations arms embargo on 15 November 2004, Ivorian newspapers have reported arms shipments to the Forces Nouvelles. We have not received any corroboration of these allegations.
Côte d'Ivoire: UN Involvement
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
What reports they have received of the call by the Force Commander of the United Nations operations in Côte d'Ivoire for that force's mandate to be reassessed. [HL586]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Secretary-General's most recent report on the United Nations operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), published on 9 December, recommends strengthening the ability of UNOCI to implement its mandate. Measures recommended include the deployment of an additional 1,226 military personnel to join the operation.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that the United Nations Security Council is responding with sufficient speed to the situation in Côte d'Ivoire. [HL587]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: An arms embargo on Côte D'Ivoire is in place and the Sanctions Committee of Côte d'Ivoire has begun its work and held meetings on 6 and 16 December 2004. The United Nations Security Council supports the African Union (AU) peace initiative led by South African President Mbeki, and will discuss next steps on 15 January, based on his report on the AU Political and Security Committee on 10 January.
Cyprus: Treaties
Lord Monson asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the following provisions are still in force, and binding upon the high contracting parties:
(a) the 1960 Treaty Concerning the Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus (Cmnd. 1252); and
(b) the 1960 Cyprus: Treaty of Guarantee (Cmnd. 1253), and the Basic Articles of the Constitution of Cyprus guaranteed therein;
and, if not, on what date they ceased to be in force. [HL543]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The 1960 Treaty Concerning the Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus and the Cyprus Treaty of Guarantee were both signed in Nicosia on 16 August 1960. They remain in force, and are binding upon the high contracting parties.
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