Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I did this at the start when we commenced the work. Former Deputy, John Bruton, and Deputy Quinn raised the issue at the time.

It does cover the entire Government service. I assure Deputies that I am not an expert on this. I am afraid age is against me in terms of being a technology buff. However the system is very good and we can all be very proud of how it works in the Civil Service. It has cost us but as a country we are now involved in it in a big way.

This year there has been a significant explanation and training programme carried out by the people involved throughout the Civil Service. I have been through that a few times. I would be glad if people want to see it. It is a very good system and when fully enhanced, which will probably still take some years, it will certainly make the Irish Civil Service system very far advanced. Last year on my travels in Europe I saw where people were at in different countries. Estonia was the only country that was very advanced in many ways. It is the only country at a level similar to us.

See this speech in context