Civil servants assaulted and threatened with axe, conference hears

Civil servants working in Department of Social Protection and Intreo offices have been assaulted and even threatened with an axe, the annual conference of the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) has been told.

The union is seeking the reintroduction of reinforced glass screens in public offices, which were removed a number of years ago, to give staff greater protection.

CPSU finance secretary Des Fagan said staff working in Department of Social Protection and Intreo - the one stop shops for employment and income supports - facilities across the country in recent months had experienced a number of violent incidents.

Speaking at the conference in Killarney, Co Kerry, he accused the Government of failing to act to protect the health and safety of staff despite being aware of the risk.

Mr Fagan said a computer was kicked off a desk in an office in Galway, while inWaterford a phone was thrown and nearly hit a staff member in the head.

He said in an office in Clonmel a chair was thrown across the desk and the assailant said he was "coming back with an axe".

He said it was lucky enough that gardaí were on the scene.

“In Newcastlewest, a member of staff was assaulted and hospitalised because a man came into the office, walked around the back of the counter, and punched her inthe face,” he said. “An ambulance had to be called and the gardaí were called.”

He said the assailant “walked free” after the incident.

Mr Fagan said the Government would not do anything about the attacks andthreats “until we get serious about protecting the health and safety of our members”.

He said he was not casting aspersions on people vitising social welfare and Intreo offices but maintained that there was a risk to employees.

The conference unanimously passed an emergency motion on Saturday calling for the introduction of adequate measures to protect the health andsafety of staff, including the reinstatment of security glass screens in public offices.

Separately, the CPSU conference voted down a motion calling on the union to campaign for abortion rights in Ireland and the repeal of the Eightth amendment to the Constitution.