Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Donohoe for raising this issue and for his continued interest in this area. It is important to put on record that there have been considerable successes in the public service in the use of information and communications technology, ICT. The big transaction processing Departments have been highly successful in implementing complex IT systems for their lines of business and have managed to do so at lower cost than many of their counterparts throughout Europe. While it is acknowledged that there was a particular problem with the implementation of PPARS in the HSE some years ago, it is worth noting that the technology aspects were successful and the problems arose primarily from the significant process changes required.

Great strides have been made in implementing high quality telecommunications and broadband services in the public service at considerably lower cost than in corporate markets and other jurisdictions. The implementation of such technology in Ireland is considered to be an exemplar that other EU countries are now seeking to emulate. In addition, Ireland is the first country in the EU to implement a fully integrated and shared national digital radio communications service to provide highly secure push-to-talk radio communications for all emergency and security services of the State. Other EU nations are now seeking to integrate systems they have implemented on an individual basis for their emergency and security services.

A considerable range of services are readily available on-line and, as a result, Ireland is ranked joint seventh of 32 countries on EU e-Government benchmarks, equal to our nearest neighbour, the UK. It is acknowledged that there are difficulties in putting more services on-line because of barriers arising from national and international law, international obligations, and requirements for biometric features such as photographs, fingerprints, signatures, additional supporting documentation, physical inspections and so on. Accordingly, the Government approved a new e-Government strategy in 2009 that sets out new approaches for dealing with these barriers and has asked public bodies to develop plans in accordance with these approaches. The Department of Finance is assisting public bodies with the development of these plans and reports regularly to the Cabinet committee on transforming public services, which I attend. This is a matter which I intend to follow up.

The Government has stated in the renewed programme for Government that we will appoint a chief information officer, CIO, to provide leadership for the development of ICT and other relevant technologies within and outside Government, as outlined by Senator Donohoe. A major part of the thinking behind this announcement is that, in addition to internal ICT matters, the CIO will advise the Government on how to take a proactive, leading role in championing IT innovation and development externally as part of the building of our smart economy. The nature of that appointment and its practicalities are under active consideration at the moment.

The Government is committed to the overall development of an innovation-based economy. Our Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013 identified science, technology and innovation, STI, as the key to our future growth and competitiveness. We realise that by making a substantial public investment in STI, we can make the transition to the smart or innovation economy. This whole-of-Government strategy comprehends research and the application and commercialisation of the fruits of that research across many Departments. The significance of this productive investment and our sustained commitment to it was reinforced in December 2008 in the Government's policy document, Building Ireland's Smart Economy - A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal.

In the 2010 budget the Government agreed to protect the significant public and private research capacity built in Ireland over the past decade. It will also consolidate that investment, secure efficiencies and refocus for the future through the creation of a single funding stream for STI. Building on that announcement, the current structures for delivery of research funding are being reviewed, as demonstrated by the creation of a single funding stream in the 2010 Revised Estimates.

When the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, assumed office, one of his key initiatives was to ensure the transfer of responsibility for the programme for research in third level institutions, PRTLI, to his Department. This provides an impetus for the two objectives of a single funding stream and a single responsible agency in view of the resulting efficiency and effectiveness. The transfer will also ensure strong links between human capital, physical infrastructure and enterprise realising opportunities. Policy goals will be implemented in a way that maximises complementarity and synergy.

As we build towards our goal of investing 3% of GDP in research and development, we will commit greater resources to funding applied research that is focused on important opportunities for industry in Ireland. The Minister will introduce legislation to broaden the remit of Science Foundation Ireland to enable it to conduct research that is closer to market. The Government is firmly of the view that innovation can help accelerate our economic recovery and help us get back on the path to sustainable growth. Its overall approach is mapped out in the report of the innovation task force, which was launched on 11 March 2010 and provides a roadmap for Ireland to identify issues in a number of areas.

The Minister has indicated he will report on the committee's work regularly to the Taoiseach and the Cabinet committee on economic renewal, and the implementation of the recommendations of the innovation task force will greatly enhance our economic and competitive position. This will be underpinned by the efficient and effective use of ICT in delivering public services, together with a CIO.