Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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148. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the rules that apply within his Department for staff and officials who leave for roles in the private sector; the cooling-off periods that apply; and if he has had any engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on this matter. [61126/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As Civil Servants, the staff in the Department have a responsibility to ensure that their work is carried out to the highest possible standards at all times.

The Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, which was introduced in accordance with the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 sets out a framework within which all Civil Servants must carry out their duties.  This Code upholds the core values of honesty, integrity, equality, fairness, respect and impartiality.

Section 20 of the Code sets out the conditions that must be met by civil servants relating to the acceptance of outside appointments and of consultancy engagement following resignation or

retirement from the Civil Service.  Any civil servant intending to be engaged in or connected with (i) any outside business with which he or she had official dealings or (ii) any outside business that might gain an unfair advantage over its competitors by employing him or her, must inform the appropriate authority of such an intention.  Additionally, civil servants who hold positions which are “designated positions” for purposes of the Ethics Acts must first obtaining approval from the appropriate authority.

The Department has a strong culture of providing the best possible service to citizens and staff in the Department are aware of their obligations under the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, both during and post-employment as Civil Servants.