Vol. 531 No. 1
161 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if, in view of an article in a newspaper (details supplied) on 5 February 2001, he will state the steps he has taken to ensure that the use of his Department's e-mail and Internet facilities are properly regulated; if a policy on the use of these facilities exists; when the policy was last updated; when the policy was last circulated to staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5117/01]
My Department's e-mail and Internet access facilities are controlled and monitored by the IT unit of the Department. The unit operates a strict anti-virus regime for its e-mail and has firewall protection for its web browsing facilities.
All staff have access to internal and external e-mail and are advised by the IT unit in relation to e-mail use. Internet access is restricted to senior management and certain key staff such as IT unit and those responsible for the implementation of e-Government.
An overall IT strategy for my Department currently being formulated in the context of the roll out of the SMI process will be finalised shortly. The strategy will include a formal policy in relation to the use of e-mail and access to the Internet which will be made more widely available within the Department at that stage.
