Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would have supported the motion of no confidence if it had been put forward today. This means that I will definitely vote against the Government's motion of confidence. How can one have confidence in somebody who leaks official documents, thereby undermining best practice in standards in public office? The predictable row at 2 p.m. over the Order of Business and the move to the convention centre should also have been avoided. As I said in the Dáil Chamber, there was no reason the Government could not have put forward its motion to be taken tomorrow, when we are due to sit here. That would have allowed us to avoid the cost of moving here today.

I read the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's circular entitled "Policy on the Use of Private Email and Other Private Messaging Services", which was sent around by HR in April 2019. The circular related to the use of services other than official Oireachtas-designated modes of communication. It states that it relates to civil servants, but surely the point here is that a Tánaiste and Minister's ability to carry out his official Government work to the highest standard must also mean that he is at the very least held to the same standards as Government and departmental officials. The circular even allows for exemptions to the rule but states that information relating to Government business must be forwarded to official work accounts prior to being deleted. Point 12 states: "Failure to adhere to the requirements set out in this Circular may result in disciplinary action under the Civil Service Disciplinary Code." Why do Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party think that the Tánaiste is above the standards we set for our civil servants? We are public servants and we should be held accountable for our actions. It appears to me that the Tánaiste actively deleted his account rather than forward the messages to the official account. As far as I can see, from looking at WhatsApp, one has to actively delete an account on that messaging service. It cannot be done by accident and does not happen automatically either.

The Tánaiste could simply apologise and step down, as a previous Tánaiste, Frances Fitzgerald, did. There is no excuse for Fianna Fáil and Green Party Deputies to say they have confidence in the Tánaiste. He undermined best practice in the context of standards in public office - this much he has admitted - and should now face the consequences of his actions. If the Tánaiste thinks that "Welfare cheats cheat us all", what does he think about politicians who behave as if they are above the standards set for us and for those in the Civil Service? Who is cheated then? The electorate is definitely cheated, as are those of us elected representatives who try to earn the public's trust in politics.

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