Departmental Correspondence

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Ceisteanna (1081)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

1081. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the policies in his Department regarding the correspondence carried out by the Minister of the Department in the conduct of Department businesses or in relation to Department business; the actions his Department takes to retrieve such correspondence that is carried out through private messaging services and ensure it is held on Departmental records; and the action taken in cases in which a Minister does not share this correspondence or it cannot be retrieved. [22209/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Department of Health is committed to transparency, honesty and openness in how it provides public access to records, including correspondence, while balancing the public interest and the right to privacy of individuals. The Department takes its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act seriously and makes every reasonable effort to assist with the identification and provision of records in accordance with the spirit and requirements of the legislation.

It is not the policy of the Department of Health to monitor stored files, voicemail, e-mail, etc. However, the Department retains the right to review, audit, intercept, access and disclose all files and messages created, received or sent using its ICT facilities for the purpose of performance, maintenance, auditing, security or investigative functions and to protect itself and users from potential liability under pornographic, equality, data protection, copyright legislation etc. Each individual in the Department has a responsibility to ensure that records created by them are managed appropriately.