I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 211 together.
Staff of the Department of Defence and Defence Forces personnel are free to use personal social media accounts on their own time.
Personal social media accounts of Department of Defence staff or Defence Forces members and their digital media presence are not part of the official communications of either the Department or the Defence Forces.
Both the Department and the Defence Forces have social media policies, in which departmental staff and Defence Forces personnel are provided with guidelines in relation to the use of personal social media accounts.
In the case of staff of the Department of Defence, this includes guidance to ensure official information is not disclosed without appropriate authorisation and that they do not express opinions on matters of or the implementation of government policy. Staff are also advised to be clear about the difference between official departmental accounts and personal ones, particularly where there is any risk that any statements, images or material posted may be perceived as being posted on behalf of the Department of Defence or the Government of Ireland.
The Defence Forces also have robust social media policies in place to provide guidance on how to ensure members maintain an accurate, appropriate and apolitical presence on personal social media accounts.
Defence Forces personnel are directed not to comment on any issue relating to controversial, sensitive or political matters which would be incompatible with service in the Defence Forces and are directed not to attempt to speak or be interpreted as speaking on behalf of the Defence Forces.
In the case of the individual, whose details were supplied, the Defence Forces were not aware of the named accounts sharing content and opinions on political and international affairs and this will now be looked into.
