Unsecured emails by Ministers
Deputy Brady alleged Ministers misled the House about using unsecured email for official business and said sensitive information had been sent insecurely. The Taoiseach said questions had already been answered, there were no rules against unencrypted emails, and the matter was under review.
The programme for Government commits to greater openness and improved accountability and delivery in this era of so-called new politics. In early December, I submitted a parliamentary question to the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and all other Ministers asking whether they had used unsecured e-mail accounts for official business. The majority of Ministers responded that they had, but not where sensitive information was involved. In light of a freedom of information request that I made, however, untruths have clearly been told. Sensitive information has been circulated through unsecured e-mails by a number of Ministers.
I submitted a question to be taken orally and had hoped to put it to the Taoiseach today. Unfortunately, it was deemed out of order and I was told that this was a matter for the Cabinet, not the Dáil. Is this what openness and transparency are about? Untruths have been told and unsecured e-mail accounts have been used for transmitting very, very sensitive information.
Comment on this
Will the Taoiseach make a statement on the matter?
Comment on this
Questions have been answered on this already. Dáil questions go through the Ceann Comhairle's office. Many Ministers do not see the Dáil questions at all until they are either diverted, refused or allocated, whatever the case might be.
First, Deputy Brady said that it was "sensitive information". Then he said that it was "very, very sensitive information". There are and were no rules against using unencrypted e-mails. That matter is under review, obviously. I am not sure which Ministers the Deputy is talking-----
Comment on this
I was told that no sensitive information had been sent in this way.
Comment on this
I am not sure which Ministers the Deputy is talking about in respect of what he calls "very, very sensitive information" being sent by e-mail. It depends on what the definition of that is. Obviously, material that I receive myself as a Minister in terms of Cabinet agendas and so on like that are sent via encrypted servers.
Comment on this
The Dáil has been misled on this matter.