Vol. 409 No. 1
11 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if any guidelines have been issued to officers of his Department regarding the acceptance of gifts from commercial firms, especially in cases where the officers may be responsible for monitoring the observance of regulations by the firms in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In common with all staff joining the Civil Service, officers of my Department are required to read and note the contents of an official circular dealing with official secrecy and integrity. This circular points out, inter alia, that any person who accepts any gift or consideration as an inducement shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment or fine or both.
Has the Minister given any consideration to the desirability of issuing guidelines at a minimum to staff in his Department who are involved in sensitive areas on behalf of his Department?
The position is that guidelines are issued in writing to officials when they join the Civil Service and they are issued again to them when their probationary period in the service is over and they are about to be appointed permanently. I do not really think it is necessary to inform them of their obligations in this regard on a third occasion. On the whole, as the House will be aware, there is a very high level of adherence to the highest standard of conduct and probity in the Irish public service, a matter of which we can be justifibly proud and thankful.
