David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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30. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the directions provided to the payment of staff in the public sector and Civil Service that fall under the direction of his Department for the days during Storm Emma when staff were directed to stay at home; if deductions in pay and annual leave were made to staff in the public sector or Civil Service as a result of days lost during the storm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11876/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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All government Departments were guided by the advice of the National Emergency Coordination Committee in deciding to close certain offices during Storm Emma. While staff were unable to work in the headquarters offices of the Department, Ireland’s Embassies and Consulates, where approximately 40% of the Department’s staff work, continued to function as normal. The Department’s out –of-hours Consular Assistance Service continued to provide assistance to Irish citizens overseas. In addition, many of the HQ based staff in my Department have remote ICT access and continued to work from home on the days in question.

No deductions of annual leave were made to HQ based staff who were advised to follow the instructions of the National Emergency Coordination Committee, and no instruction was given to deduct pay from staff for the days in question.