Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy again for her constructive proposal, which I understand she has made on several previous occasions based on personal experience. We must reinvent the way in which consultation occurs to make it easier for citizens to become aware of what is being done in public policy across government. The pilot to which I referred has been organised by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and we are confident it will be up and running by the summer. The pilot will give rise to technical issues and an issue as to how much of the information citizens place online should be made available to other citizens.

The Deputy correctly noted the success of the e-Tenders web portal, which provides an online opportunity for small and large businesses, domestic and international, to pitch for public sector work. One of the first decisions taken by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, on taking office was to seek proposals on reform across the virtual system. Many of these proposals are being followed through.

While we are conscious that this area presents great opportunities, we must proceed on a step-by-step basis and in a way that ensures citizens who are consulting us and submitting views and proposals are certain that their views are being taken seriously and formatted in a manner in which they have confidence. I hope the pilot will give us a better sense of how to work through these issues when it is up and running in the summer.

See this speech in context