Vol. 438 No. 1
42 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the procedures that are adopted to deal with Government employees who breach the Official Secrets Act; and the number of individuals who have been found to breach the Act over the past ten years.
Breaches of confidentiality by civil servants are regarded as misconduct warranting disciplinary action and would be dealt with in accordance with the standard disciplinary procedures which provide for a range of penalties up to and including dismissal. Where the Head of the Department concerned considers that a criminal offence under the Official Secrets Act may have been committed, the matter may be referred to the Garda. As far as I am aware no civil servant has been found to breach the Act in the past ten years.
