Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

The broker has not been abandoned. Some components are well-established and are used by many people. However, there have been concerns about the ongoing running cost of the broker and the Department of Finance is looking at this with a view to making it more cost effective.

It is important for people to recognise that technology is changing at all times in terms of cost and functionality and that the concept of the broker was devised eight years ago, which is 24 Internet years ago. We must face up to the fact that time and the Internet era move on very rapidly. What is happening now is the right thing. The Department of Finance is looking at that aspect.

I know we will discuss benchmarking and where we stand with regard to our EU colleagues during Deputy Coveney's Private Members' motion tonight. We are at the EU average. We should not lose sight of the fact that our score continually improves. We have been leapfrogged by some member states, but it is important to remember that this is to be expected considering the absence of any culture of centralised identity registration. This is a key issue with which we must deal and which is being addressed by the Department of Finance at present.

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