asked the Minister for Finance whether the circular forbidding civil servants to identify themselves with political candidates is still in force and if he is aware that, according to an election address issued on behalf of one of the candidates in the Seanad by-election now pending, that candidate is sponsored by the head of an important office in the Civil Service, and if he will state what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Civil Servants and Politics.
I regret to say that so far as. I have ascertained the names of three civil servants were appended to the election address of one of the candidates in the Seanad by-election. Each of the officers concerned has been asked to submit an explanation of the occurrence to the head of his Department who then reports to me on the matter. One of the officers has stated that his name was appended to the address without his consent. I have not yet received a report in the other cases.
I wish to assure the Deputy that I would take a very serious view of this matter, having regard to the fact that two of the officers are in what might be called key positions in the Civil Service, if their names were appended to the address with their consent.
Will the Minister say which of the candidates for the Seanad by-election are political candidates?
All.
Will the Minister say who particularly the Party felonsetter is getting after now in his question?
That is a contemptible suggestion.
I do not know whether I am called upon to deal with the particular term used by the Deputy——
"Felon-setter" is not a proper term to apply to a Deputy and it should be withdrawn.
I certainly withdraw the remark here. Will the Minister say who are the candidates who have been supported by civil servants and who are the candidates who have had the names of these civil servants as assenters to their papers?
I do not propose to mention names in this matter, but with reference to Deputy Mulcahy's earlier suggestion, I wish to say that I regard it as a public duty on the part of any member of the Oireachtas to ensure that civil servants, and particularly higher civil servants, do not take an active part in politics. Election to this House is a political operation and membership of this House is a political status and no person can engage openly and actively—he is free to vote and to hold his own opinions—in these elections without participating in politics.
Has the Minister's attention been drawn to the fact that the question refers not to election to this House but to election to the Seanad?
The Seanad is part of the Oireachtas. I am afraid I have to remind the Deputy of that. The two Houses of the Oireachtas, with the President, are the political constitution of this country.
Will the Minister, in view of the answer he has given to the question, put in the Library a copy of the circular to civil servants which is referred to in the question? I submit that the Minister's answer raises quite a number of important issues and, for the information of members of both the Dáil and the Seanad, I ask if the Minister will put a copy of the instruction referred to in the question in the Library?
In order that the Deputies may not be under any misapprehension as to what the circular contains—I should say that I am perfectly certain that the Deputy can find a copy of the circular in the Library— here is what the circular contains:—
"While the Minister appreciates that it would not be feasible——"
Is the Minister reading the whole circular?
Not the whole of it.
A Minister quoting a circular must supply it for the information of the House.
I will table the circular, but I ask you to excuse me from reading the whole of it.
Certainly, so long as we understand that the whole circular will be made available.
The circular is No. 21 of 1932. It refers to an earlier circular issued in 1926 and goes on:—
"While the Minister appreciates that it would not be feasible to anticipate every occasion of the kind in question that might arise for consideration, he desires to lay down specific directions on the following points, namely:—
(1) An official shall not be a member of an association or serve on a committee having for its object the promotion of the interests of a political Party or the promotion or prevention of the return of a particular candidate to the Dáil.
(2) An official shall not support or oppose any particular candidate or Party either by public speaking or writing.
(3) An official shall not make any verbal statements in public (or which are liable to be published) and shall not contribute to newspapers or other publications any letters or articles, conveying information, comment or criticism on any matter of current political interest, or which concerns the political action or position of the Government or of any member or group of members of the Oireachtas."
Will the Minister advert to the fact that in the circular which he read out he speaks of election to the Dáil, not election to the Seanad? Will he say, also, whether any reproof has been addressed to the secretary of the Department of Finance and to the assistant secretary for their animadversion on Government policy before the arbitration committee?
I am sure that the taxpayers will be glad to think that their interests are represented before that tribunal. They suffered on a previous occasion.
Will the Minister state whether the regulations embodied in the circular apply to every single State authority employee?
No.
There is some confusion in the lower grades. That is my only reason for asking.
There are those who might not be civil servants, who might be on the fringe, and in fact there are civil servants members of one Department, who are members of an organisation which, I understand, is affiliated to the Labour Party.
I want only to get this clear. Is the Minister himself fully satisfied that the circular defines fully the type of civil servant who is excluded from these activities as distinct from minor State employees? I have in mind, say, people who are employed as labourers or skilled men on State farms or places like that.
I do not think they would be covered, but it is well for every public employee to preserve a proper discretion on the matter. It is of vital importance to the taxpayer and to the general public that there should be no doubt about impartiality in administering the law.
Is the Minister satisfied that the circular clearly defines the type of employee he has excluded?
It has been read to, and brought to the knowledge of, those likely to be affected by it.