Mr. Robert Watt:

There is a programme of reform. We established this office a number of years ago. We are now investing and implementing the various reforms. I cannot speak about the ins and outs of the Garda and the extent to which its processes are modernised and renewed and the extent to which it has embraced ICT. Within the Civil Service of 37,000 staff, we have spent the past number of years implementing a suite of applications based on SharePoint, ePQs, eFOI, eSubmissions and eRecords, and by the end of next year we will have all Departments and 37,000 staff using these processes. It depends of the part of the public service. I cannot speak for the Garda. The Garda Commissioner is obviously talking about further initiatives in ICT and the digital transformation.

If the Deputy wants to have a detailed discussion about the progress that has been made, I am happy to have that discussion but it is not fair to make these general statements that we are not embracing this or that. Of course, the system can always improve.

That is what we are about but I will be very happy to set out for the Deputy in detail the progress we have made in the Civil Service and in respect of the digital offering we are providing citizens in terms of the external stuff.