New restrictions have been imposed on civil servants leaving to take up lucrative employment in the private sector if this is deemed to involve a conflict of interest or give unfair commercial advantage to an outside company.
The new Code of Standards and Behaviour for Civil Servants also limits the size of gifts and the extent of hospitality civil servants can accept. It confirms the bar on civil servants from running for election or getting involved in politics, while incorporating many existing requirements including the need to deal respectfully with the public and ensure the efficient use of public money.
The restrictions on moving to certain private-sector posts follow unease at the appointment of a small number of senior civil servants to key positions in businesses, where their "insider" knowledge could be of great benefit to the commercial concern. From now on senior civil servants and those working as ministerial advisers will be barred from taking up any job or work which could lead to a conflict of interest within 12 months of leaving the civil service.
The adjudication on whether this employment is appropriate will be made by the Secretary General of their Department on those below assistant secretary level, and by the new Outside Appointments Board for those at higher level. This board will comprise senior civil servants and outsiders.
Civil servants must not accept any gifts or benefits which "might reasonably be seen to compromise their personal judgment or integrity".
This means, says the document, that they can accept gifts of modest value such as diaries and pens, but more valuable items should be refused. In addition a gift other than one of modest value given arising from the Department's commercial dealings with the donor "must be regarded as property of the Department/Office concerned".
An exception is made for frequent flier schemes. Individual civil servants can hold on to benefits given arising from travel on civil service business "in recognition of the fact that official travel is disruptive to personal and family life".
Cash, gift cheques and vouchers that can be exchanged for cash must never be accepted, no matter how small. Civil servants must not solicit gifts, nor can they seek sponsorship or support for any club, charity or other organisation.
Regarding hospitality, civil servants must be able to accept "what are regarded as normal courtesies in business relationships". Routine hospitality such as a business lunch is acceptable: Offers of foreign travel and holiday weekends should be referred to the civil servant's superiors.
The Minister for Finance Mr McCreevy, said yesterday that the code "sets out, in a single document, the principles and standards which govern the behaviour of a modernised civil service". The code "sets standards for service delivery, behaviour at work and integrity".
The introduction of this code was provided for in the Standards in Public Office Act of 2001. The code finally introduced yesterday follows a long process of consultation with two Oireachtas Committees. A draft was produced in 2001 and has since been considered by two Oireachtas Committees - the civil service unions and the Standards in Public Office Commission - which will now circulate it to all civil servants.