Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
174. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport if his Department operates an X account (formerly Twitter) or any other social media account, and if such accounts are verified through a subscription fee; the policy in place that guides when any of these accounts can ‘like’, endorse or support a posting on X or other social media platforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53665/23]
View answerThe Department of Transport has active social media accounts which represent the Department on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
The Department also manages the social media accounts for:
• Zero Emissions Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), an office within the Department, on X, LinkedIn and Facebook.
• The Irish Coast Guard, a division within the Irish Maritime Directorate (IMD) at the Department of Transport, on X and Facebook.
The social media accounts for the Department of Transport, Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) and the Irish Coast Guard are managed by authorised staff.
However, social media pages affiliated to specific Coast Guard units are managed separately by volunteers in that unit and not by the Department of Transport.
The Department keeps its use of all social media platforms under review for safety and has a social media policy that is published online: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/679ae6-department-of-transport-tourism-and-sport-twitter-policy/
The Department’s policy states that “Retweets and Shares are not endorsement – the purpose of resharing of content is for sharing information and does not imply any endorsement of the message tweeted/posted or the individual or organisation that tweeted/posted it .”
The Department is not currently subscribed (via subscription fee) to any verification offering.
