Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2013
281. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether the policy of senior public servants not taking part in political or referendum campaigns is worthwhile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39075/13]
View answerPolicies relating to the participation of public servants vary across different areas of the public service and restrictions on political activity are not uniform. My own Department is responsible for the policy that applies in relation to civil servants and political activity. This is set out in Circular 9/2009, available on www.circulars.gov.ie.
There are clear restrictions on the majority of civil servants participating in political activity. While there are some exceptions to this - including clerical staff with the approval of the Department, craft workers, state industrial and manual grades and grades below clerical grades - they are limited.
In the civil service there has been a long tradition of political impartiality. This approach is reflected in the Code of Standards and Behaviour for Civil Servants. The Code, at paragraph 4 states, that civil servants in the performance of their duties:
a. must conscientiously serve the duly elected Government of the day, the other institutions of State and the public;
b. must advise and implement policy impartially and, in particular, be conscious of the need to maintain the independence necessary to give any future Minister or Government confidence in their integrity, and
c. should not display partiality whether as a result of personal or family ties or otherwise.
The rationale for restricting civil servants in relation to politics and political activity is to ensure that a civil servant does not do anything that could give rise to a perception that his or her official actions are in any way influenced or capable of being influenced by political motives.
It is my view that this policy remains relevant and worthwhile for civil servants to safeguard the fundamental principles of civil service impartiality and independence.
I understand that there is no comparable restriction on political activity in other sectors of the public service.
