Data Protection

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023

Tuesday, 13 June 2023

Questions (174)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

174. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the security protections in place for remote workers within civil and public service organisations to safeguard against personal information of members of the public in audio, text and electronic form being inadvertently exposed to unauthorised third parties within the remote setting; if he can provide a copy of the remote working best practice guidelines for civil and public service workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28633/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

All staff approved for blended working must abide by the Department’s Blended Working policy which is in line with the Civil Service Blended Working Framework. The policy requires that all applicants for blended working must complete the necessary Cyber Security training, and must have a specified workstation which complies with the Department’s security requirements, including Cyber Security. Any consideration of role suitability for blended working includes consideration of the performance of tasks that are security sensitive.

For reasons of operational and national security it is not appropriate to disclose technical details of the Departments Cyber Security arrangements.

The Department’s Blended Working policy is available via this link: dfa-ie.sharefile.eu/d-sc3015435dc4d46f68d1bda0e27dc3fed.