John Bruton
Question:10 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the individual or individuals in his office responsible for the confidentiality and security of documentation he receives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18907/99]
Ceisteanna – Questions. - Departmental Staff.
John Bruton
Question:20 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the number of staff in his office; the number of staff in the Government Information Service; the plans, if any, he has to move staff between one or the other; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19529/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 20 together.
Following approval by the Government of the report of the interdepartmental committee on the protection of classified official information, the Department of Finance issued guidelines for Departments in October 1998. In accordance with those guidelines, it is a matter for each Department to adopt procedures to preserve the confidentiality of its classified documents. The procedures to be adopted vary from Department to Department and from division to division within Departments, depending upon the nature of individual records, the reason for classification, the number of people who must have access, the frequency of access etc.
The guidelines were brought to the attention of heads of divisions in my Department in November 1998. In accordance with the requirements of the Finance circular, a review at assistant secretary level of the amount of, and necessity for, material classified as "top secret" will be undertaken shortly. Overall, and having regard to modern developments in this area such as the Free dom of Information Act, the intent of the Finance circular was to keep the number of documents to be designated "top secret" to an absolute minimum, to restrict their circulation and to ensure appropriate arrangements for their safekeeping.
Documents to be classified in this way would be of a type whose release would: put at risk the life or safety of any individual; pose a serious threat to security, defence or international relations;undermine the police or judicial processes involved in dealing with serious crime; adversely affect developments in relation to Northern Ireland; and pose a serious risk to the economic interests of the State.
Access to "secret" documents in my office is very restricted. My private secretary retains all documents of this nature in a locked safe if they are not in my personal possession. Certain senior staff in my Department and certain of my senior advisers see some documents but only on a need to know basis. They are individually responsible for such documents while they are in their possession.
In the case of the report of the authorised officer in the Ansbacher affair, the report was sent to my private secretary and marked strictly private and confidential. The last paragraph of the covering letter indicated that the material enclosed was to be retained in strict conditions of secrecy under the Companies Act. In the circumstances I instructed my private secretary to place it in the safe in my office and it remained there ever since under my direct control. I did not, in this instance, circulate it or give a copy of it to any of my officials or advisers.
There are currently 16 staff – civil servants and non civil servants – in my private office. These include four special advisers, three personal assistants, my private secretary, one administrative officer, one higher executive officer and six clerical officers, one of whom is on a higher duties allowance. There is also one vacancy at clerical level.
The Office of the Government Press Secretary, the Government Information Service and the communications unit currently have 11 staff, civil servants and non-civil servants. These include the Government Press Secretary, the Deputy Government Press Secretary and head of GIS, the communications unit manager, one personal assistant, one senior press officer, one press officer, one executive officer, one staff officer and three clerical officers. In addition, there are four staff on secondment to the communications unit from other Departments. I have no plans at present to move staff from one of these divisions to the other.
The time for dealing with the Taoiseach's questions has expired but I will allow one brief supplementary question.
Is the Taoiseach's office taking on a particular role in preparing material for the Moriarty tribunal given that the Minister of State at the Department of Finance felt that certain information he had received in the preparation of a parliamentary question should be passed to the Taoiseach's office which subsequently was given to the newspapers? Does the Taoiseach's office have a special role in preparing material for the Moriarty tribunal or deciding whether it might be prematurely given to the newspapers as well?
I have already answered that matter in the House so I have no more to add to it. My office has no special role in any of the tribunals.
Why then did the Minister of State, Deputy Cullen, feel the Taoiseach's office was the proper location for this titbit?
The Deputy should ask the Minister of State, Deputy Cullen.
Perhaps the Taoiseach would ask him as he appointed him.
I answered that question here.