Dysfunctional work cultures, work days missed and ill-health effects - all caused by bullying - are to be investigated by an expert advisory group established by the Minister of State for Labour Affairs, Mr Frank Fahey.

The group, which is due to report to Mr Fahey in early December, has been asked to assess the effectiveness of the current measures to prevent workplace bullying, to identify areas for improvement and to examine the impact of bullying on health and workplace stress.

Mr Fahey set up the group to review the progress of the Task Force on Bullying and to "deal with gaps in the current regime", including the lack of a specific State agency dedicated to investigating cases of bullying.

Depending on the nature of the complaint, it could be dealt with by the Health and Safety Authority, the Labour Relations Commission or the Equality Authority.

Since the 2001 report of the task force, the Bullying Response Unit in the Health and Safety Authority has been established and the Dignity in the Workplace charter and codes of practice have been developed. This represents "substantial progress" from the 1990s, Mr Fahey said.

"We now need to take stock of where we are and consider introducing preventative practice and procedures to address the challenges which have arisen for those dealing with the fallout of bullying on a daily basis."

Mr Fahey said he hoped the new group, to be chaired by Mr Paul J Farrell of IBM, would make recommendations leading to "tangible improvements" in workplaces.

"For some time, I have been concerned at the loss of work days, ill-health effects, including stress, the workplace difficulties and general dysfunctional work cultures which bullying and the resulting stress is causing. The report of the expert group, which I have announced today, will provide the information on the best way forward."