Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Finance if members of staff at the National Treasury Management Agency are exempt from the standard practice of a cooling off period for senior civil servants moving from public sector into private sector employment; if this is true, the reason such an exemption applies; the number of staff that have transferred from the NTMA to the private sector in the past four years, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3709/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour contains provisions regarding acceptance of outside appointments and of consultancy engagement following resignation or retirement. This code does not apply to directors or employees in State bodies in the wider public service. I am informed by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) that the number of employees who have resigned from the NTMA since 2009 is as set out in the table below -

*Includes staff who have submitted their resignation and are serving their notice period.

I am also informed by the NTMA that its employees have notice periods of one or three months and six months in the case of the Chief Executive. All NTMA employees are subject to section 14 of the National Treasury Management Agency Act, 1990 which prohibits an employee from disclosing any information obtained while carrying out their duties as employees of the NTMA. NTMA employees are also subject to the Official Secrets Act. I am informed by the NTMA that contravention of the NTMA Act and the Official Secrets Act is a criminal offence and that the prohibition on disclosing confidential information applies indefinitely and extends to former employees. I understand the Chief Executive of the Agency is reviewing NTMA policy in this area.