Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Department of the Taoiseach has detailed information and communications technology policies relating to the use of e-mail and the Internet. These policies, which are provided to all staff, also deal with software downloads, media device usage, remote access and the security responsibility of users. While the existing policies do not explicitly ban the use of unofficial e-mail accounts for official purposes, they stipulate that individuals using the Department's electronic media should handle their communications with the same care as any other type of business communications. I informed the House in December 2016 that the Department's information and communications technology policies were being reviewed and that a process of consolidation would be undertaken following the review. The review has now been completed and the consolidation process is under way. Text dealing explicitly with the use of unofficial e-mail accounts for official purposes will be included in the consolidated policy.

For the information of Deputy Micheál Martin, the consolidation process involves bringing together multiple individual policies dealing with various aspects of information and communications technology security, such as e-mail and Internet usage, remote access, mobile device usage and software downloads. These policies have been reviewed and updated and are being consolidated into a single overarching policy that will be a single point of reference for all staff in the Department. When the consolidated policy has been approved by senior management, it will be circulated to all staff.

That new protocol will contain specific guidance relating to the use of private e-mail accounts and other forms of electronic communications. Although there has not been a particular formal protocol, that will now become part of the process with which all staff will be fully acquainted.

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