Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the Secretary General of his Department, for the purpose of transparency and accountability, will publish their diary on their website on a monthly basis. [19962/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I am satisfied in the broadest sense that Civil Servants at my Department carry out their functions with honesty, impartiality and with respect for the citizens they serve. The Secretary General as the Accounting Officer is obliged to appear before the Public Accounts Committee on an annual basis and account for the expenditure of the Education budget as voted on by the Houses of the Oireachtas.

In addition to the above, the conduct of Civil Servants in carrying out their official functions is governed by the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour. The Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 imposes a statutory obligation on Civil Servants that hold designated positions to disclose any interest they may have that could influence them in carrying out their official duties. In ensuring that it works in a transparent manner, my Department recently launched a new website which regularly publishes developments in the education sector. It includes details of the School Building Works Programme, payments made to companies that are over €20,000 in value and a statement of prompt payments. In relation to the Deputy's specific suggestion that the Secretary General at my Department should publish his diary on the Department's website, I understand that the Secretary General is now considering this.