James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

Does the Minister intend to amend electoral legislation to allow civil servants to join political parties? The sinister development by the Green Party to target civil servants by inviting them to join its so-called supporters list is totally unacceptable. If Opposition parties tried to recruit civil servants, the Green Party would be first to cry foul. Does the Minister consider his party's attempt to recruit civil servants breaches any electoral legislation as set out by his Department or the Standards in Public Office Act 2001?

I sense a conflict between his ministerial position and his own party targeting civil servants to make donations to the Green Party in return for Green Party literature and communications. This must be considered as nothing but political activity. This is very serious. The Minister is attempting to politicise the public service, and, in my opinion, it is crossing a very thin line.

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