Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My role is one the Taoiseach has defined as Minister of State with responsibility for open government and eGovernment. They are not two different coins but very much the same entity. As I have often relayed to other Members of the House and my officials, we cannot have one without the other. While until now I have been preoccupied in the drafting and completion of legislation on other issues, legislation which is almost ready to be brought before the House, this is an issue about which I feel strongly because consultation is not something that should just be initiated by the Government. It should also be about finding out from citizens their concerns that may not necessarily be on the radar of Members. With the greatest of respect to us, we are all very busy and whether we want to admit it, in some areas we are the captive of the bubble mentality. Every Member is very busy. As a result, our agendas are often driven by those who have access to information, including advocacy and civil society groups. However, they do not include over 90% of the people who are not actively involved in any group and who may not want to attend a constituency clinic or get involved in a political party but who still wants to engage with the Government. The quickest and most effective way to do this is through an online or electronic communications system. There is a difficulty in that regard and the infrastructure to be used in creating it will not be put in place overnight. It comes at a cost which has to be borne by the people. It would be much easier if we had a magic wand in deciding whether I should bring forward a proposal in the House through the Department that would involve a lot of capital investment and that would meet with the support of Members. I am not naive enough to believe that would happen because I know that some people would say it was an awful waste of money on a vanity project to engage in consultation with the people, but this is about investing long term in our democracy when the Government and politicians would be kept way more informed of the views of the people, as opposed to what we are being told by the Fifth Estate.

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