Mr. Ger Deering:

That is the ultimate area we need to get to and it is certainly something I will be encouraging. The problem we suffer from is that so many different organisations have grown up with different systems and legacy systems. There is a world of difference between where some public bodies are in terms of the IT and data management systems they have. It would be ideal if all those systems would talk to each other. It is a big project. Everybody will know that any IT project undertaken will be a big project. There have been developments in recent times with central management of information. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform now has an information officer for the entire Civil Service and public service generally. There are moves in that area and there are major projects.

The simple answer to the Deputy's question is that I would like to see it happen. In practical terms, a lot of work needs to be done, but we need to agree that is where we need to go. Anybody developing a new system or doing work in the area of information management can aspire to move into that space. The issue is a bit like what I talked about at the start regarding the quality of services people deliver sometimes. It is not necessarily always a cultural thing. It is to do with when that service was developed and whether it was added to piecemeal. Part of the problem with the public service and some of the private sector as well is that they are dealing with legacy systems that cannot talk to each other. It will take a considerable amount of investment, but that does not mean we should not be aspiring, planning and aiming to get there.