Ministry challenging Social Security Appeal Authority
decision
-- To be attributed to Brendan Boyle, Chief
Executive, Ministry of Social Development: The Ministry
for Social Development is challenging the Social Security
Appeal Authority’s interlocutory decision and has today
lodged an appeal. As the matter will now be decided by
the High Court, the Ministry is unable to make any further
comment. -ENDS- Please find the Chief Executives
previous statement (1 September 2017) below: Our position
on the use of pseudonyms by staff dealing with our most
volatile clients The health and safety of my staff is
absolutely critical. That is why we use pseudonyms for
staff in the Remote Client Unit. The Remote Client Unit
works with our most volatile clients, to the extent that our
people do not meet with them face to face. These are a
tiny group of our clients, around 80 clients out of a total
of 1.1m. Pseudonyms protect Unit staff and on occasion
members of the Benefit Review Committee from being
identified and potentially placed at greater risk of
harassment, threats or even violence, both within and
outside of their work environment We take the
Authority’s interlocutory decision extremely seriously,
given the issues raised, and our commitment to ensuring the
safety for our staff. We are considering our legal
position in relation to the Authority’s decision. I
refute any claim that a personal undertaking was given to
discontinue the use of pseudonyms. The documents will
show
that. ENDS
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