asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the reasons underlying the regulation issued by him forbidding public officials or civil servants from approaching members of the Oireachtas in relation to the conditions of their employment; and whether, having regard to the fact that this constitutes a deprivation of freedom of action for such officials in the exercise of their ordinary civil rights, and also hinders the elected representatives of the people from discharging their public duties, he will withdraw the regulations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Officials and Civil Servants.
On matters affecting groups or classes of civil servants ample facilities are provided through the various Civil Service organisations for making representations to the Ministers particularly concerned and, in appropriate cases, to the Minister for Finance. A civil servant who desires to raise a question concerning his own position or conditions of employment has the right to make representations to the Civil Service head of his Department or, through that officer, to the Minister.
The regulation made in 1922, and confirmed ten years later, which prohibits civil servants from endeavouring to obtain personal concessions by applications submitted otherwise than through the Civil Service heads of Departments, was made in the interests of discipline and fair play. I cannot agree that it unduly limits the freedom of action of civil servants or that it hinders the elected representatives of the people in discharging any of the duties they are elected to discharge. It is in my opinion a desirable and necessary regulation and I do not propose to withdraw it. On the contrary, I take this opportunity to appeal to Deputies to co-operate with me in its enforcement.