Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I agree with Deputy Coveney that the situation confronting us makes it imperative that all initiatives, including the e-government initiative, form the basis of a broader agreement on how we can provide more efficient and effective public services in the future. It is true that there is a need to utilise technology in a way that will deliver services that are more customer oriented and citizen focused while at the same time ensuring those areas of the public service where personal interaction between the service provider and the person requiring the service is maintained. There are applications where technology can apply that will bring important savings. We are committed to doing this. The template for transforming public services is a considered approach in this regard. The renewed programme for Government refers to the need to appoint a chief information officer to assist in ensuring the expertise available in the public and private sector on technology is brought to bear in terms of the manner in which we currently deliver public services and how we use technology to improve the delivery of that service.

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