Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
638. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she or her advisers have ever used private email for any form of Government business since her appointment as Minister; and if so, if she will publish each such email and corresponding documents immediately. [19563/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra646. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she, her Ministers of State and or advisers have ever used private email for any form of official Government use since the formation of the Government; and if so, if she will publish all such emails and corresponding documents immediately. [19635/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has an Information and Communications ICT Usage Policy which highlights for staff the need for email security. All staff members have to sign up to the policy and all new staff are provided with a copy of the policy as part of their induction material and are expected to comply with this policy.
My staff working in my Department and I have been assigned Departmental email accounts which are used for official business and have been recently installed on my mobile devices. On rare occasions, a personal email address may be used for operational reasons e.g. lack of access to ICT. From time to time, a third party may also email me about official business using an address other than my Departmental address. In line with my Department's ICT policy, if such correspondence is received, I or my staff copy the reply to Government officials thereby creating a record of the correspondence which can be accessed at a later date.
I can also advise that Minister Madigan does not use a personal email for official purposes.
