Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
PEADAR TÓIBÍN HAS called on Arts Minister Heather Humphreys to send a “loud and clear” message to institutions receiving State funding that bullying or harassment by staff will not be tolerated.
The Sinn Féin TD raised allegations about bullying and harassment at the National Museum and Gate Theatre in the Dáil today.
Tóibín said: “In the last few weeks, a number of women have stood up and identified sexual harassment and bullying at the highest reaches of cultural institutions in the State. This takes strength and confidence because in Ireland to speak out normally means career suicide.
“These women have done massive service to workers everywhere and they must be applauded. Why, in 2017, must women use the front pages of newspapers to achieve justice and a workplace free of harassment and bullying?”
Tóibín claimed there is “a crisis” in the arts sector, stating: “The minister has levers of control. One is money. The minister can refuse to fund organisations that are not working properly.
A person’s only current recourse to justice is to go to the front page of a national newspaper or to Minister Joe Duffy (of Liveline fame) and that is not good enough.
Tóibín claimed that the Humphreys “has seen a letter detailing the bullying that is happening in the National Museum and yet it has been dismissed in the department’s report as having no legal standing”.
“A large number of people have been to the High Court and received settlements – State money. Despite this, the minister claims she has no responsibility in the matter.
“Millions of euro have been paid to consultants and for reports with regard to psychologists on this issue and yet nothing of significance is being done. Stacks of surveys detail the massive amount of complaints of bullying.
This weekend even the former director of the museum came out and said he had witnessed uncontrolled misogyny in the museum when he was leaving. He is concerned that it is still there.
“We know that a psychotherapist, who had been employed by the museum, blew the whistle and sent a letter to the department in 2011 identifying exactly what had happened. This weekend the front page of a newspaper reported another brave woman’s experience of what has happened in the museum.
“There is a forest of signposts clearly pointing the direction on the issue and yet the department’s report states that there is nothing to see here,” Tóibín said.
‘Legacy HR issues’
In response, Humphreys stated that everyone is “entitled to be treated with dignity, respect, fairness and equality in the workplace, be it in the National Museum or anywhere else”.
In recent times, there have been a number of alarming allegations and reports of sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace relating to the arts community.
“I commend the women who have come out in recent weeks and told their stories. It is very brave of them and I am glad they did so.”
The minister told Tóibín the museum is “dealing with a number of legacy HR issues relating to matters that happened a number of years ago and the board of management is taking steps to address these issues”.
“I cannot get involved in HR matters, which are a matter for the executive and board of the museum. I have provided additional support in dealing with the legacy issues. I have been very supportive of the chair and the members of the new board, whom I appointed in July 2016.
“They are doing a wonderful job in implementing change in the museum as well as preparing new plans to improve the museum’s services to the public in the coming years.”
Humphreys said her department has “already sanctioned three specific HR positions and two temporary positions for the corporate services area of the museum to assist in this process.” She said the report states there is “no evidence in the department of the department receiving any allegation of inappropriate sexual behaviour from June 2011 nor of anyone making a protected disclosure to the minister”.
“Other staffing matters which came to the attention of the department at that time were referred to the museum, as the employer,” Humphreys said, adding that the museum’s responsibility for its staff is “clearly set out legislation”.
“This is all dealt with in the review which specifically acknowledges that in 2012 certain allegations of bullying were referred to the museum, which rejected the issues raised. Referring the matter follows logically from the role of the institution as the employer. It refers and then any minister is bound to respect the statutory independence put in place by the Oireachtas, ” she stated.
‘Pontius Pilate’
Toibín said the minister’s claim she can’t get involved in HR matters was “a statement worthy of Pontius Pilate”, noting she “operates the funding for the museum”.
He said that “in fairness” to Humphreys she “responded to the crisis that developed in the theatres in recent weeks”.
Last week the minister met with the Arts Council to discuss allegations of harassment at the Gate Theatre in Dublin. In recent weeks several women have come forward with allegations of inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power by the theatre’s former director Michael Colgan.
Tóibín said: “There is a comparable gravity between the treatment of the staff in the National Museum and the other cultural institutions under the spotlight now. The minister should ensure that no cultural institution is left behind in this process. We need a proper investigation into what has happened in the National Museum of Ireland.
The minister needs to ensure that nobody in any of these institutions is ever again confused about being allowed to run institutions in this manner and still receiving money from the public purse. She needs to send the message loud and clear that money will not leave the public purse unless people get their houses in order on this issue.
In response to this, Humphreys again reiterated that she has “no involvement in the day-to-day running of the National Museum”.
“I accept there are issues at the museum and I have provided support to the chair and the board in terms of additional HR people. I will continue to work closely with the chair and the board of the museum. I will support them in any way I can to resolve the issues that have arisen,” she said.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
What about the crisis of bullying in SinnFein Peadair?
@Dave Sherman: they have procedures in place aka kangaroo court.
@Paul: Was the kangaroo court not when Enda Kenny used Dail privilege to act as judge and jury against people who had already been acquitted in a court of law?
@Dave Sherman: What about, what about, what about…
@Dermo Adams: nah the Kangaroo Court was when the provos subjected victims of sexual abuse to paramilitary courts
@Incognito: Hypocrite of the highest order that’s what.
@Dermo Adams: who are u referring to?
and some people wonder why the Shinners have 13% of the vote. This hypocrisy might work in Norn Iron but not down here sunshine
@Dave Sherman:
So all that is needed is for SF to be accused of something and everyone else can join in and do the same !!!.. I don’t think so Dave.
@Dave Sherman: will u cut that out Jerry said it never happened
@Dave Sherman: is it just me or do all SF representatives look like older toerags
@Dave Sherman:
I agree with you completely !!!!!!
as a very long time member of
Sinn Fèin I shall not be renewing
my membership because of the intimidation and bullying I have
Witnessed at grass roots level
Even from yourself Peadar. !!!!!!!
@Dave Sherman: Their Ard Fheis is coming up this weekend, Have to have something to Deflect the Sheep’s Attention from the widespread Bullying, Harassment and Intimidation going on around them and the fact that the partys vote ( in last few opinion polls ) is going down, down and down .. lol ..
@For Connolly: Was ‘sunshine’ a Pink Floyd reference?
SF giving a moral lecture on bullying is a bit like bank executives giving a lecture on always putting the customer first…..Thoes with mortgage difficulties….
PMSL! Same way they like to think they’re a bunch of peacemakers
@Diarmuid: hilarious! Forgot to check the calendar, is today the first day of April?
@Diarmuid: Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. Loser.
@Diarmuid: I did. Unless he’s calling out the widely reported culture of bullying in SF, he’s a bland hypocrite. Much like SF going public on wanting to sell easter lillies on the same day their abject failure in makey uppey government was highlighted.
@Diarmuid: “bringing it into talks” – suppose someone needed to represent that terrorist organisation while it was surrendering and handing over its weapons. Lucky for Jorry he got cushy British public sector jobs out of it.
Diarmuid – have you been possessed by a evil ghost?
@Diarmuid: The new Diarmuid is Dermo Adams. If he wants to troll he shouldn’t verbatim his comments from this mornings defence of Gerry Adams.
@Diarmuid: He brought about peace by stopping killing people. Bravo…….slow handclap.
@Honeybadger197: the Risen must have been banned…… must hurt the poor fella.
@Diarmuid:
I see what you did there. Checkmate & Bravo!
Im more interested to know why Journal has refused to report his comments on 8th Amendment Committee……
@Paul: what comments? Care to elaborate? Genuinely curiosity.
@Paul: Afraid of a kneecapping?
They haven’t gone away you know!
@Geffrey Kane: he has called out the committee been pro abortion. SF have said his comments do not represent party position.
@Paul: “he has called out the committee been pro abortion”
Eh?
@Paul: “being”
@Paul: “being” Of course they don’t represent the party position – they’re still pro-killing children in their mother’s wombs, much the same as ISIS philosophy really.
A SF TD lecturing on bullying and harassment. I have heard it all. Have they no shame or integrity.
I don’t support SF but I’m unconvinced that the problem of bullying and harassment in Ireland is exclusively confined to the SF Party.
Lol these Shinners are a funny bunch
Start with your own party peadar,clean it up.until then sf have no credibility on the issue.
Interesting, a senior SF td condemning bullying… they must be trying to deflect from their own issues
Peadar Toibin wishes to harrass and bully women who aren’t antichoice like him.
Has Peadar got a soundbite in the widely reported culture of bullying in his own party? This must be like SF announcing Easter Lily sales on the same day the utter failure of their pretend governance of the North is exposed.
@CloneDiarmuid: just like the shinners? : )
A bit rich coming from him of all people. Fully appreciate that the Arts & Heritage sector has a major sexual harassment issue. But really, this is fake indignation from an anti-choice zealot who thinks women’s lives are no more important than the content of a discarded condom. He couldn’t give a toss, so to speak, about women’s rights.
@Emo101: you mean not pro–death for defenceless babies. Shinners may have stopped killing grown-ups but innocent children are still fair game for slaughter as far as they’re concerned.
@JMac: If you can’t tell the difference between an actual baby and sperm, read a biology book, not TheJournal.
Special Communications Unit Mobilisation!
Incoming!
@Jarlath Murphy: Yeah don’t think you need a SCU to call out utter SF hypocrisy.
How many SF Councillors is that to have resigned or been sacked due to bullying now?
What a dufus!
The calibre of shinner politician is farcical.
the impersonating shinner bot who was banned a few years back?
@We’re Jammin’: Yeah I was trolled by a shinner bot with the same name in the past. Thankfully he/she was banned. Why do you care Diarmuid?
Hi everyone,
Please ignore the clone account above. As you can see from the ’5Y’ (5 year contributor) symbol under my name, this is the original.
I will be reporting the above account in the morning.
Best wishes
WJ
@We’re Jammin’: looks like one of the guilty shinner bots is back ^
Any idea how a different photo and proper grammar on a Bob Marley song is a clone?
PMSL!
@were jammin: so you have we’re jamming, For Connolly, the Risen and Francis McCarthy? How do you keep up?
@Jane: sorry were jammin
@were jammin: It really is disrespectful to contributors who just want to comment and discuss the actual article above.
@Jane: You’re fine Jane. It’s easy to get mixed up with the abuses of posting privileges that are happening around these parts all too often.
@Jane: me thinks the “Risen” was banned.
Pfizer took an action for copyright infringement : )
ah I get it now – Jammin’s “Risen” was banned so he set up clone accounts to troll Diarmuid, but is offended by supposed clone accounts
trying to be a bully on an article about shinner bullying : )
confused little shinner : )
@For Connolly: when you see ‘good lad’ you’ll know it’s him
@Diarmuid: a clone account angry about clone accounts PMSL : )
Silly little shinner : )
Good lad : )
Somebody really needs to put some sort of filter on this site to prevent children from posting.
No bullying in Sinn Fein If this is all you have to speak on you are overpaid for doing nothing but making a fool of yourself
The words “Deflection and Distraction” comes to mind … Also the expression “Titanium Bulletproof Necks” also comes to mind with any reps from Gerry Adams party accusing others of Bullying or Intimidation/Harassment … Concentrate on sorting out their own house first, before trying to Deflect peoples attention towards other peoples houses …
People in glasshouses should not fire stones ,i am against all forms of bullying ,be it political ,social or economic .
he’s a looker.
You have to wonder about people who attack Sinn Féin (no I am not a member), rather than address the serious issue Deputy Tobín aided. They seem to be like the judges who give suspended or lenient sentences to men who beat and brutalise women….. a very disturbing mindset
Why is an intelligent and talented man like Peadar focusing on such relatively trivial nonsense?
Sinn Fein need to get off the hard left Utopian bandwagon and become more pragmatic and inclusive….
There are similar issues of abuse of power in other state-funded bodies, such as within the health service. I find this very disappointing in this day and age. You’d think we’d have learned from all of the past cover-ups in this country.
have your say