Joe Behan (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I speak in favour of the agreed motion. This is a subject worthy of consideration and discussion by Members. I welcome the positive political engagement that took place today between the Chief Whip and Deputy Coveney, which has resulted in a very positive and forward-looking motion that will be accepted.

As Members will know, the concept of e-Government originated with an action plan in 1999, the purpose of which was to create a new vision of on-line and self-service delivery of key public services to the citizen. There followed a second plan in 2002 which focused on Departments of State identifying key flagship projects using information and communication technologies in the service of citizens. There have been many successes to celebrate along the way, including the delivery of many key public services on-line to those who wish to avail of them. It is apparent that these services are being accessed by increasing numbers of people as they become familiar with the process.

A recent survey of motor tax on-line customers showed that every person who used it was either satisfied or very satisfied with the service being provided. This indicates that people will respond to an on-line service that is convenient, quick and efficient. There are many other examples upon which we could reflect tonight, including practical service delivery models such as on-line examination results, CAO on-line, Revenue on-line, citizen's information on-line, on-line library book borrowing services, on-line planning application information and generally the on-line public appointments service as well as access to and interaction with a wide variety of local and central Government Departments and agencies.

Apart from the advantages in terms of ease and convenience to the citizen when these services are available, it is increasingly the case that significant cost savings and efficiencies arise from their use. I note that the Secretary General of the Taoiseach's Department during his recent appearance before the Committee of Public Accounts indicated that e-Cabinet, for example, is now facilitating significant efficiencies across all Departments. There are probably only two or three Members in the Chamber at the moment who have had the privilege of attending a Cabinet meeting but perhaps there will be one or two others who will have that privilege after next week. The television pictures of Cabinet meetings where Ministers are looking at computer screens and there is a notable lack of files and folders presents a good example to the rest of the community and is something of which we will see more in the future.

As Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council in 2006 and 2007, I was very happy to oversee the development of the concept of webcasting of council meetings, which has resulted in the proceedings of the council being available for residents of County Wicklow to watch on the worldwide web. This access to council meetings is a great service to those constituents who wish to find out what business is being conducted on their behalf. Indeed, the business of Wicklow County Council, regrettably, has often been hampered by incidences of obstructive, boorish and destructive behaviour on the part of certain members of the council but the advent of webcasting allows the people of Wicklow to see for themselves exactly what goes on in the council chamber. Hopefully, it will inform their decision as to who they vote for at the next local elections.

I wish to enter a cautious note in my contribution to this debate. While it is commendable to have a system of public service delivery that is accessed electronically, it is essential that we avoid two possible pitfalls. The first would be to mistakenly believe that electronic communication is always preferable to the human and personal contact offered to citizens by the many thousands of dedicated public servants on a daily basis in this country. If we lost this, we would be much the poorer for it. I urge Members to consider e-voting as an exciting additional service but not one to replace forever the personal contact with the public service.

My second concern for the future is that in our efforts to provide an electronic public service delivery model, we will in some way accelerate the marginalisation of those in our society who suffer socioeconomic disadvantage. It would be appalling if the valuable work being done at the moment, and planned for the future, to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of our public services were to become another barrier for the least well-off in our society. It is essential that in all our deliberations on this matter, we constantly remember that we must bring all our people with us.

See this speech in context