Social Media

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 March 2023

Thursday, 23 March 2023

Questions (386)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

386. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the protocols and or guidelines she has issued in respect of the use of personal social media accounts by officials in her Department; the number of sanctions imposed by her 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 her 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. [14519/23]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department's social media policy can be found on the gov.ie website here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/0d15f-social-media-policy/; In addition, guidelines relating to the use of personal social media accounts by officials in my Department are currently being drafted.

My Department was established in 2017 and since then no sanctions have been imposed on officials in respect of social media output. Access to Twitter is allowed on my Department's network as a business social media platform. Access to other social media platforms is restricted and is only provided where business needs are identified.

While the application the Deputy refers to is not used in an official capacity by my Department, the application is not barred from use on phones issued by my Department.