Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 3

Written Answers. - Press Contributions.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

308 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the member of the staff, if any, of his Department, above the rank of executive officer, contributing to or writing a weekly column of a political nature in a local newspaper, under a pseudonym; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17878/97]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am not aware of any member of staff in my Department who is contributing to or writing a weekly column of a political nature in a local newspaper, under a pseudonym.

During the course of this year all staff in my Department have been reissued with a copy of Finance Circular No. 21/32 regarding civil servants and politics and reminded of the longstanding position that civil servants should be politically neutral.