I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together.
On the issue of the involvement of the former head of the Shareholder Management Unit, the officer went on holidays to Australia on 12 December, 2012 and did not return to the Department until January 14th, 2013 at which time he tendered his resignation and in accordance with normal practice will not take up duty in the banks for another two months. Hence there is effectively a cordon sanitaire in operation for three months in this instance. All civil servants are subject to a number of confidentiality clauses, these also apply to NTMA staff seconded to the Department. I can confirm that the official has signed the following documents:-
(1) Official Secrecy and Integrity Circular15/1979
(2) Freedom of Information Circular 7/98
(3) Official Secrecy: Budget Preparations Circular 27/95
(4)
Software Use, Acquisition and Management Policy Office Notice 04/02
(5) Department of Finance Information and Communications Technology Usage Policy Summary Office Notice 01/2006
All these give further protection around the confidentiality of information involved.