SIPTU's equality officer, Ms Noirin Greene, is to interview the delegate who made allegations of sexual harassment at the union's biennial conference in Ennis last week. Ms Elaine Harvey, a Galway delegate, gave detailed and explicit examples of sexual harassment she had witnessed at union conferences over her 18 years as an activist. However, it was unclear from the examples how many, if any, of the incidents referred to SIPTU.
She gave no names at the conference but said she would name offenders if she saw incidents of harassment at union functions in future. It is understood that one of the main alleged offenders is no longer active in the union.
Ms Greene confirmed yesterday that she was making arrangements to meet Ms Harvey. Although she had dealt with many sexual harassment claims on behalf of union members, Ms Greene said this was the first time she had had to conduct an internal SIPTU investigation into such allegations.
She said the decision to investigate the allegations was in line with union policy. Any discussions with Ms Harvey would be on a confidential basis, she added. It was impossible at this stage to say how the investigation would proceed. Last week, immediately after Ms Harvey's allegations, Ms Greene said that any member found guilty of unbecoming behaviour would be expelled from SIPTU.
Another delegate at the conference, Ms Margaret Neilis, complained of harassment and the bad attitudes that some men, at all levels in the organisation, continued to harbour towards women.
The union's vice-president, Mr Des Geraghty, interviewed Ms Neilis in Ennis and offered to meet Ms Harvey. She is understood to have been too upset by the hostile reaction of some delegates to her remarks to discuss the situation with anyone.
On that occasion Mr Geraghty offered to facilitate Ms Harvey by arranging for a senior female member of the union to meet her, if she preferred. Yesterday afternoon it was agreed that Ms Greene would be the most appropriate person to do so.
The union also issued a statement yesterday saying that, as the result of preliminary investigations, it was satisfied that none of the allegations referred to had occurred at last week's conference.