The National Women’s Council has welcomed plans by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, to adopt a “zero tolerance approach” to sexual violence and harassment in third level institutions. In a statement, UCD president, Andrew Deeks apologised to Dr Ní Shúilleabháin as well as other colleagues and students who had suffered similar experiences at the university. “Bullying, harassment, sexual harassment or sexual misconduct have no place in UCD and we are already working to strengthen our current policies with a number of measures,” said Prof Deeks. Other measures include a new concept of disclosure on sexual harassment and misconduct as well as clarifying the relationship between informal and formal internal complaints and complaints to gardaí. The Minister said he had met Dr Ní Shúilleabháin in recent weeks and thanked her for speaking out about “the most horrific experiences she had to endure”.

Source: The Irish Times September 06, 2020 16:41 UTC