Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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612. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department uses anti profanity software on its email systems and online contact forms; if so, the level of human oversight that is applied to the monitoring of these softwares and their effectiveness; his views on whether persons' legitimate right to petition Government may be blocked unintentionally by errors in the use of such softwares in determining that which qualifies as profanity being communicated in email and or online contact forms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2090/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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My Department uses anti-profanity software on its email systems but not on online contact forms.  Email messages containing profanity are quarantined by the software and the recipient is informed and allowed the opportunity to request release and then if granted to access the message. The operation of the software on the email system is reviewed by my ICT Division on a continuous basis and takes into account any observations or issues raised by colleagues throughout the Department. I believe that the systems and processes in place in the Department are such as to minimise the possibility of electronic communication petitioning the Department or myself not being accessed, having due regard to the security and operation of the Department’s ICT network.