Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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159. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the protocols and or guidelines he has issued in respect of the use of personal social media accounts by officials in his Department; the number of sanctions imposed by his Department on its own officials in the past ten years to date in respect of social media output by its officials, verbal, written or otherwise; if social media platforms are restricted on his Department’s network; if an application (details supplied) is available to use and or download onto Departmental-issued mobile phones; and if not, if it is barred from use. [14510/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has a social media policy.  It has two purposes.  Firstly, it is aimed at external stakeholders of my Department, to explain how the Department uses social media to convey its messages, and what those stakeholders can expect if they interact with the Department’s social media accounts.  Secondly, it is intended to provide guidance to Departmental staff to encourage employees of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to use social media appropriately to support and enhance the work of the Department, and also to highlight individual responsibilities to do so in accordance with my Department’s Code of Standards and Behaviour and related policies.  The current policy was introduced in 2020.  My Department has one record of a sanction imposed on an official in respect of social media output in the past ten years.  This matter related to a post on a staff member’s personal social media account.

Social media is recognised as an important channel of communication, and as such has a role in many aspects of my Department’s work.  Access to most social media channels from the Department’s network, including the channel referenced by the Deputy, is currently restricted by default for productivity reasons, except where there is a business case to support access.

Social media channels are not currently blocked from Departmental mobile phones.  My Department is aware of recent advice on mobile device security from the National Cyber Security Centre.  It is reviewing this advice in light of its own business needs and risks.  It is also understood that further, more detailed advice will be forthcoming which will inform any decisions on mobile device security, and which will be taken into account in making any changes to policies where this is deemed necessary.