Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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76. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a policy on ministerial use of private email for Government business in his Department; and if so, if it will be published. [41528/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has an ICT Acceptable Usage Policy in place to ensure all users of the ICT facilities and services are fully aware of their obligations in terms of access to and use of these facilities and services. This policy states that my Department’s e-mail system and authorised internet services are the only methods approved for the issue or publication of official Department information in electronic format. This Acceptable Usage Policy is part of the framework of the policies and procedures which the management of my Department has adopted to implement an information security management system. It is important to note that this policy also sits within an overarching framework that includes the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, Civil Service Disciplinary Code, Ethics in Public Office, the Official Secrets Act and other such relevant codes of conduct and behavior.

The Deputy may wish to know that my Department has plans to issue a circular to Heads of Departments/Offices on the use of private email and other messaging services in the Civil and Public Service which will be published on www.circulars.gov.ie in due course.