To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many staff in his Department (a) were disciplined and (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last 12 months. (262244)

Genuine sickness absence is not considered a disciplinary matter in the Department. Sickness absence is handled under separate poor attendance procedures. As such no staff have been disciplined as a result of a poor sickness record within the past year.

No staff have had their employment terminated as a result of poor sickness absence in the past year.