Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
1357. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if his Department has any usage policy on or if it sanctions for official purposes the use of messaging apps (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37208/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has an ICT Acceptable Usage Policy in place. It is specifically noted in the ICT Acceptable Usage Policy that it applies to instant messaging applications. All staff must sign and adhere to this policy. As part of this policy, my Department adheres to the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform, and Digitalisation's Circular 09/2019 "Policy on the Use of Private Email and Other Private Messaging Services". Circular 09/2019 states that the use of private email accounts or other private messaging services to conduct official government business should be avoided, other than in exceptional circumstances, such as an extended loss of ICT services. It also states that in such circumstances correspondence relating to official government business should be forwarded to the civil servant’s organisation account.
