Social Media

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 March 2023

Thursday, 23 March 2023

Questions (205)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

205. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the protocols and or guidelines he has issued in respect of the use of personal social media accounts by officials in his Department; the number of sanctions imposed by his Department on its own officials in the past ten years to date in respect of social media output by its officials, verbal, written or otherwise; if social media platforms are restricted on his Department’s network; if an application (details supplied) is available to use and or download onto Departmental-issued mobile phones; and if not, if it is barred from use. [14512/23]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

All users of official communications devices in the Department of Finance are expected to exercise appropriate discretion in their use, and in relevant communications services in line with acceptable usage policies. That acceptable use policy sits within an overarching framework of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, Civil Service Disciplinary Code, Ethics in Public Office, the Official Secrets Act and other such relevant codes of conduct and behaviour. There have been no sanctions of staff in the last ten years for the use of social media and these platforms are not restricted on the network.