Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 505: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of uncertified sick days taken within all sections of his Department for the years 2007 and 2008 and to date in 2009; the number of employees who have taken uncertified sick days in the categories one to ten days and over ten days; the number of uncertified sick days taken Fridays and Mondays; the number of persistent offenders with regard to uncertified sick days who have been sent for an independent doctors opinion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15673/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The following table sets out the total number of uncertified sick days taken by staff in my Department during the years in question, along with the number of uncertified sick days taken on Mondays and Fridays:

The following table shows the number of staff taking fewer than 10 and more than 10 uncertified sick days during the years in question:

I understand it is not the practice within the Civil Service for staff who have taken uncertified sick days to be referred for an independent medical opinion. Such action is generally only taken when an officer has been on certified, long-term sick leave. The Department closely monitors uncertified sick leave absences by staff. Such absences in excess of the limits prescribed by the Department of Finance (i.e. seven days in any period of 12 months) result in the withholding of salary.