Harris gets tough in bid to remove NDAs from college bullying cases

HIGHER Education Minister Simon Harris has asked the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to ensure colleges and universities follow through on commitments not to use Non-Disclosure Agreements in bullying and harassment cases.

Although colleges have already told Mr Harris that Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) are not being used, sources close to the minister told the Irish Daily Mail that he was ‘of the view that them saying it wasn’t enough’.

An NDA is a legally binding contract that establishes a confidential relationship. The party or parties signing the agreement agree that sensitive information they may obtain will not be made available to any others.

It comes following a crackdown on NDAs in the North earlier this week.

Queen’s University, Ulster University, Stranmillis University College, St Mary’s University College and the Open University all signed a pledge committing that the agreements would not be used.

The Mail understands that Mr Harris has asked the HEA to oversee commitments given by colleges and ensure NDAs are not used. This information will have to be included in the HEA’s annual report to the minister.

Mr Harris sent letters to all presidents in universities and third-level institutions last October regarding sexual harassment and bullying and condemned the use of NDAs.

He said at the time: ‘The use of NDAs runs contrary to the values of transparency, consistency and integrity that are embodied in my Department’s Framework for Consent in Higher Education Institutions.’

Mr Harris has allocated €20,000 to support the rollout of a pilot of the online version of the UCC Bystander Programme in all colleges and universities.

The Bystander programme supports staff and students to intervene when they witness certain types of behaviour.