Departmental Communications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 April 2025

Tuesday, 29 April 2025

Questions (168)

Alan Kelly

Question:

168. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach the guidance provided to officeholders, officials or special advisers in his Department on the use of messaging applications (details supplied) as a means of communication; if business in his Department is carried out on such encrypted applications; if records must be maintained for public scrutiny and if specific rules exist over the use of disappearing messages; and if security advice has been provided to him regarding these applications on account of his office or the Secretary General of his Department on the use of such apps and the conduct of Government business on these apps; and if specific guidance has been provided to members of the Government by his Department on the use of these apps, whether on private phones or publicly provided mobile phones. [18633/25]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

All Department of the Taoiseach official devices and the software applications that run on them comply with guidance provided by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This guidance is based on risk assessments appropriate to the circumstances and is kept under continuous review by the Department and the NCSC.

The Department of the Taoiseach requires all users of official devices to exercise appropriate discretion in their use and to use these devices in compliance with the Department's acceptable usage policies, relevant legislation and the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour.