Civil Servants

Summary of the main features of the Code

Civil servants must be impartial in the performance of their duties. [Section 4]
Civil servants are not permitted to stand for general or European elections. However, civil servants in the craft and state industrial related grades are free to engage in political activity and stand for local elections. [Section 5]
Civil servants must respect the constraints of the law. [Section 6]
Under the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 to 2003, members of the public have a legal right to information held by Government Departments and other public bodies. However, the requirement under the Official Secrets Act 1963 that civil servants avoid improper disclosure of information gained in the course of their work still applies. [Section 7]
Civil servants must maintain high standards of service in all of their dealings with the public. [Section 8]
Civil servants who are convicted of criminal offences, or given the benefit of the Probation Act when tried for a criminal offence, must report that fact to their Personnel Officer. [Section 9]
Civil servants are required to attend at work as required and comply with the terms of sick leave regulations. [Section 10]
Civil servants are required to have due regard for State resources to ensure proper, effective and efficient use of public money. [Section 11]
Civil servants should show due respect to their colleagues including their beliefs and values. [Section 12]
The use of their official positions by civil servants to benefit themselves or others with whom they have personal or business ties is not allowed. Civil servants are also forbidden to seek to influence decisions on matters pertaining to their official positions other than through established procedures. [Section 13]
Civil servants may not engage in outside business or activity which would in any way conflict with the interests of their Departments/Offices. [Section 14]
Civil servants who occupy “designated positions” for the purposes of the Ethics Acts have certain statutory obligations in relation to disclosure of interests. These obligations are additional to any obligations imposed by the Code. [Section 15]
Civil servants should not receive benefits of any kind from a third party which might reasonably be seen to compromise their personal judgement or integrity. Departments are required to apply the rules contained in the Code on the receipt of gifts or to make local rules deriving from them. [Section 16]
The same principle applies to any acceptance of hospitality. Within the general framework of guidelines set out in the Code, every care must be taken to ensure that (a) any acceptance of hospitality does not influence, or is seen to influence, the discharging of official functions [Section 17] and (b) that there are clear and appropriate standards in place which have been notified to all staff in relation to payment for work on behalf of outside bodies. [Section 18]
Civil servants must not seek contracts with Government Departments or Offices for supply of goods or services whether for their own benefit or for the benefit of any company with which they may have an involvement in a private capacity. [Section 19]
Civil servants shall not within twelve months of resigning or retiring from the Civil Service, accept an appointment, or particular consultancy project, where the nature and terms of such appointment could lead to a conflict of interest or the perception of such, without first obtaining the approval of the Outside Appointments Board or the Secretary General or Head of Office as appropriate. Additionally, civil servants who hold positions which are "designated positions" for the purposes of the Ethics Acts must, within twelve months of resigning or retiring, obtain the approval of the Outside Appointments Board or the Secretary General or Head of Office as appropriate before taking up any outside appointment. [Sections 20 and 21].

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