Departmental Communications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018

Tuesday, 16 January 2018

Questions (1562)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

1562. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department uses anti-profanity software on its email systems and online contact forms; if so, the level of human oversight that is applied to the monitoring of this software and its effectiveness; his views on whether persons' legitimate right to petition Government may be blocked unintentionally by errors in the use of such software in determining that which qualifies as profanity being communicated in email or online contact forms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2092/18]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Department was established on 19 July 2017, bringing together functions from the Department of Culture, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, and the Department of Housing, Community and Local Government. In advance of moving the Department's HQ to its permanent location, IT services are currently being provided by the two Departments on our behalf. As a consequence, the Department does not maintain any email systems. In addition, the Department's website is maintained by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer as part of the 'Build to Share' suite of IT tools.