Vol. 472 No. 3
65 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance his views on the involvement of the Association of Higher Civil Servants in comments made in respect of a recent statement in connection with the delisting of Judge Dominic Lynch on the Special Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23245/96]
I was concerned that comments in the statement issued in the name of the Association of Higher Civil Servants of 8 November 1996 raised issues about the political impartiality of civil servants. Accordingly I directed the secretary in my Department with responsibility for public service management and development to take the matter up with the association. I also directed that the issue be placed on the agenda for the 27 November meeting of the general council, a forum which brings together management and staff interests under the civil service conciliation and arbitration scheme.
The general council unanimously reaffirmed the long-standing position that civil servants should be politically neutral. My Department has been in touch with the Department of Justice and other Departments following that reaffirmation of the traditional position at general council. The Deputy will be aware of the statement issued by the Association of Higher Civil Servants on 15 November 1996 in which they repudiated the statement made in the association's name on 8 November and apologised to the Government and Opposition parties for the intrusion into the political arena.
