Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2021
210. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff in his Department that have had access to files and or email restricted and or revoked as part of a disciplinary process or preceding or following a disciplinary process from 1 January 2018 to date in 2021. [22774/21]
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 the 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 December 2020 my Department produced an updated 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.
The purpose of this Civil Service Disciplinary Code as outlined in circular 19 of 2006 is to set out the arrangements for dealing with disciplinary matters in the Civil Service and in my Department. It is also to ensure that all civil servants are aware that if there is a failure to adhere to the required standards of conduct, work performance and attendance, the disciplinary procedure set out in this Circular will apply. This procedure will be initiated where a concern arises about the conduct, work performance, and/or attendance of a civil servant. This procedure will provide a fair and efficient process for dealing with any such concern. This Code will apply to all civil servants other than new entrants serving in a probationary capacity.
I wish to advise the Deputy that there that one member of staff was suspended and subsequently dismissed from duty under the Civil Service Disciplinary Code in the period from 1 January 2018 to date in 2021 and had their access to files and email revoked.
