Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The Department's IT systems are continually being upgraded. What happens is that what is now the newest system will be the oldest system in five years time. At that point, what is now the oldest system will have become the newest again in light of the constant circle of upgrades that obtains. The Department has very good IT systems. People tend to underestimate the scale of what the Department does each week, particularly in the context of the delivery of payments to 1.5 million recipients of social welfare. In addition, it is continually gathering information as a result of people seeking their entitlements through the system. In light of the actual limitations of IT systems and the fact that technology has a limited shelf life, I am of the view that the Department has a good record.

Let us ignore the issue of mobile telephones for a moment and concentrate on Deputy Ring's amendment. What the Deputy is opposing is the Department being given power under the law to put in place electronic signing pads in its social welfare offices. Such pads can verify people's signatures, thereby obviating the necessity for them to present at a counter in order to sign on in front of an official. If a person's signature is not recognised by the pad, he or she will then be obliged to present to an official. However, the system will work for those who sign on their own behalf. Deputy Ring is stating that he does not want this to happen even on a trial basis. I am surprised by that.

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