Mr. John O'Sullivan:

I thank the committee for the opportunity to make some brief opening remarks and to take part in this discussion on e-conveyancing. I do so as the chief executive-designate of Tailte Éireann, the new organisation to be established through the merger of the Property Registration Authority, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Valuation Office. I am accompanied by Mr. Frank Treacy, Mr. Greg McDermott and Mr. Peter McHugh of the Property Registration Authority. We look forward to assisting the committee in its consideration of the subject.

As I outlined in June, it is envisaged that Tailte Éireann will, when established, be responsible for providing the authoritative national property registration system, national mapping and surveying infrastructure and State property valuation service. In that capacity, it will be the primary source of property information and location-based data in the State and will assume a lead role in the development and delivery of land information services.

One of the roles envisaged for Tailte is in developing and leading the implementation of a national spatial data infrastructure, NSDI. This will result in Tailte co-ordinating the use of such information across government and establishing and managing the standards behind such information. The NSDI will thus facilitate better use of location-based information to support evidence-based decision making across the relevant government sectors. Accordingly, the development and implementation of an NSDI by Tailte Éireann is potentially a significant and welcome development for e-conveyancing.

I note the commitment to e-conveyancing in the Government's Construction 2020 report, which concluded that "a system of eConveyancing which harnesses modern technology to assist in the timely transfer of property ownership would provide a more modern, efficient, cost effective and secure system to support transactions in the property market in the future". However, Construction 2020 also acknowledges that "moving to a full eConveyancing system will require a number of further elements over and above existing and planned developments to be put in place". It identifies, in particular, the need to provide for the secure transmission of communications, the management and disbursement of funds between parties and the creation and management of digital signatures.

Measure No. 73 in the Construction 2020 report deals specifically with e-conveyancing. It states: "In collaboration with key stakeholders (the legal profession and the banking sector) the Strategy will review and report on the steps required to deliver a system of eConveyancing in Ireland, including the resource implications and timeframes for delivery." I am advised by the Department of Justice and Equality that, in order to advance this matter, it intends to convene a working group to conduct the proposed review of e-conveyancing and to report to the Government thereafter. It is anticipated that the working group will be convened during the final quarter of 2014.

Developments towards e-conveyancing are well aligned with the mission and vision that have been articulated for Tailte Éireann and the new organisation will be keen to play a central role in the project. In my submission, I included some briefing material in appendices for the attention of committee members.