Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The plan to link disparate systems that were unable to talk to each other —to use their own lingo — is almost complete. The current process of e-Government has already been completed because the whole system had to be integrated. The Deputy's question relates to broader computer systems and ensuring that each Department and agency is purchasing and using compatible equipment. The e-Cabinet project, which is linked to every Department, section and agency, is totally compatible. The advantage is that there is instant use of any information from a Department's IT section to the Government secretariat, involving documentation such as memoranda with which we are familiar. That is the benefit of the system. The Deputy's question related to the wider computer system for which the planned integration is well advanced. My understanding is that it will be completed this year.

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