Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 June 2018
124. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if personnel in his Department have been removed from their position, transferred to another role or had their employment terminated in the past four years due to breaches of departmental standards or professional misconduct or incompetence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27951/18]
View answerThe Department of Finance is a high performing professional organisation which operates to the highest standards. To ensure the Department achieves priority outcomes the aim is to sustain and foster a culture and related values that exemplify ethical behaviour and effective governance. These shared values drive behaviour and define a culture that support the efforts to deliver a mission in a professional, efficient, fair and balanced manner.
Integrity, objectivity, impartiality, openness, accountability, and respect are the core values to which the Department subscribes and these are aligned with those standards as reflected in the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviours, the Code of Ethics and the Civil Service Renewal Plan.
In November 2017 my Department produced its 4th iteration of the Governance Framework. Effective governance encourages the efficient use of resources, strengthens accountability for the stewardship of those resources, improves management and service delivery, and thereby contributes to improving peoples’ lives. Good governance is integral to all the Department’s strategic and operational policies and practices which encompass the objectives, plans, relationships, accountabilities, resources, processes and activities for implementing and continually improving governance arrangements throughout the organisation.
All staff of the Department have an important role to play in collectively committing to the good governance of the Department through the requirements of this framework and that of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour.
All new entrants to the Department are provided with a copy of the Code of Standards and Behaviours and the Dignity at Work policy. The policy on bullying and harassment is also included in the Staff Handbook which is provided to all staff. All of these documents are also available on the Department's internal HR website.
Throughout the year all staff performance and behaviour is managed through the Performance Management and Development System and where appropriate through the Civil Service Management of Underperformance Policy and/or Civil Service Disciplinary Code.
From 2015 to 2018, there have been no dismissals or transfers of staff, from the Department or, to another role for the reasons as set out by the Deputy in his question.
