Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if access to a public representative's website is barred on computers in his Department's offices; if this applies to all elected Members' websites; the reason access to these websites are denied; the person who made the decision to bar access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39788/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food uses standard security software to control and monitor access from its computer network to all external websites. Access to any public representatives' websites is not proactively restricted by my Department. Notwithstanding this and in accordance with my Department's internet usage policy, the third party software utilised, initially restricts websites using various pre-defined IT security categorisations, such as, barring access to 'webmail' sites.

Therefore, it can inadvertently occur that access to legitimate websites can be generically blocked by the security software without the knowledge or proactive involvement of my Department's staff. To resolve such occurrences and in accordance with my Department's internet usage policy, any staff member wishing to access a website that has been automatically blocked by the security software is also prompted to request access by detailing the internet address and the reason(s) for access.