Request for Tenders for the provision of Mediation Services for the Houses of the Oireachtas Service

Description

The Houses of the Oireachtas Service (“the Service”), acting for and on behalf of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (“the Contracting Authority”) wishes to engage a Service Provider to provide mediation services to the Service, Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas and political parties, on a draw down basis, to support them in managing grievances and complaints of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment. The Contracting Authority is responsible for the running of the Houses of the Oireachtas, or Irish Parliament, (Dáil Éireann, Seanad Éireann and Oireachtas Committees) and acts as governing body of the Service (further information is available at www.oireachtas.ie).The Contracting Authority has a Dignity and Respect Statement of Principles and Policy which adopts common standards throughout the Parliament to promote the maintenance of a respectful workplace and a positive working environment. This policy is in addition to the central civil service Dignity at Work Policy 2015 which applies to staff employed by the Service. The Contracting Authority provides mediation services that the Service, Members, their staff and political parties’ staff, can draw down to manage grievances and complaints of bullying, harassment or sexual harassment. The mediation services may cover some 1,400 individuals, being civil servants employed by the Service, Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas; and the staff employed by Members and political parties who are situated throughout the country. In respect of political staff, whilst payroll is administered by the Service, the Member or political party directly employs their staff and has responsibilities and obligations towards these people as employees in the areas of equality and health and safety issues.