Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Once this is signed off, I would emphasise the importance of ensuring that the Department's in-house consultants are on the same level as the vendor in terms of knowledge. We do not want to see a power shift to the outsourced vendor who could then hold us to ransom. I am not saying that the vendor would do that but I am just flagging the risk. We must think ahead in terms of two or four years. We must make sure that there is a shift towards the Department in the context of knowledge transfer and training so that the State is in full control of that system. I understand that maintenance and so forth will require the input of the vendor but the balance of power must lie with the Department. It is important from an ownership and usage point of view that the Department would call all of the shots.