Civil servants will be allowed to keep benefits gained in "frequent flier" schemes under a draft code of conduct drawn up for the Civil Service. While the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour states that gifts of significant value should be refused, it says that the gifts earned by civil servants through air travel may be kept. This is "in recognition of the fact that official travel is disruptive to personal and family life".
Civil servants are allowed to retain gifts of "modest" value. Modest gifts include items such as diaries or pens. A maximum figure will not be put on the value of such gifts until the various departments and unions have examined the draft rules.
"Any gift of more significant value should be refused, or, if such refusal would cause offence, should be handed over by the civil servant concerned to his/her Department office", the code states.
The rule that certain civil servants must get approval before accepting consultancy work or a job in the private sector within a year of leaving the Civil Service - if the job could lead to a conflict of interest - was raised at yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service.
Senator John Dardis (PD) asked if a total ban on taking up such work in the first year had been considered. If a former Department of Agriculture official was appointed to a co-op or plc board, the company could have an unfair competitive advantage because of the official's knowledge, he said.
However, Fianna Fail TD Mr Ben Briscoe said it would be unfair to prevent talented people from taking up jobs outside the Civil Service. "We're not a police state," he said.
