asked the Minister for Finance if he will state if it is the customary practice of his Department to allow civil servants seconded to positions in institutions over or to which the Government have statutory obligations to act for independent concerns in an advisory or other capacity.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Secondment of Civil Servants.
As the number of seconded civil servants is small, it has not so far been found necessary to prescribe specific rules in regard to their conduct while absent from the Civil Service. During secondment, an officer is not free to take part in politics nor to be connected with any outside business or activity which would in any way conflict with the interests of his Department or be inconsistent with his official position. Otherwise, his conditions of service are primarily a matter for the employing institution to determine in the light of the individual circumstances.
Is the Minister aware that in the early stages of this year an official who was seconded to the Irish Assurance Company acted sometimes in an advisory capacity for the banks in an industrial strike involving their officials, and is the Minister going to give his imprimatur to that? Is he prepared to more or less encourage civil servants who are seconded to institutions semi-controlled by the Government to act in this manner?
The Deputy should not make a statement respecting a civil servant, because such a person has no protection against accusations made in this House. Some protection should be afforded to civil servants, and their names should not be bandied about this House in any fashion. Perhaps Deputy Keane will, therefore, resume his seat.
I mentioned no names.
The method of identification which has been adopted by the Deputy will clearly indicate who the person concerned is.
Surely the Ceann Comhairle will agree with me that, if I did make a mistake, I made it in good part.
I am merely trying to save people, who have no protection, from charges made against them in this House.
Would the Minister give some undertaking that similar happenings will not occur again?
First of all, I am in great difficulty about this matter. So far as I am aware, the banks' strike took place towards the end of 1950 and at the beginning of 1951. If, therefore, seconded civil servants infringed the requirements of the ordinary Civil Service rules of conduct, the responsibility for the matter does not rest with me. I am also in the difficulty that I think the gentleman referred to is not, in fact, a seconded civil servant.
You only think it.