John Bruton
Ceist:18 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the individual or individuals in his office responsible for the confidentiality and security of documentation he receives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18907/99]
Vol. 509 No. 2
18 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the individual or individuals in his office responsible for the confidentiality and security of documentation he receives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18907/99]
Following approval by the Government of the report of the interdepartmental committee on the protection of classified official information, the Department of Finance issued guidelines for Departments in October 1998. In accordance with those guidelines, it is a matter for each Department to adopt procedures to preserve the confidentiality of its classified documents. The procedures to be adopted would vary from Department to Department and from division to division within Departments, depending on the nature of individual records, the reason for classification, the number of people who must have access, the frequency of access, etc. The guidelines were brought to the attention of heads of divisions in my Department in November 1998. In accordance with the requirements of the Finance circular, a review at assistant secretary level of the amount of, and necessity for, material classified as "Top Secret" will be undertaken shortly.