Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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37. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is preparing his Department to adapt to and make maximum use of next generation technologies in information and communications to enhance its internal functioning and interaction with citizens; his plans to conduct a risk analysis in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36105/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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My Department is committed to maximising the use of available information and communications technology to enhance interaction with the citizen and the internal functioning of the Department and this is reflected in the ongoing investment in ICT. It is my Department's strategies, objectives and business process improvement initiatives which drive the selection, development and types of technologies most appropriate. Mobility is a particular requirement and officers across the organisation have remote access to Department services via tablet and smartphone devices.

My Department's public diplomacy initiatives are supported by extensive use of social media tools and the development of its websites and related services for which there is a programme under way; a new website promoting the Irish Aid programme was launched at the end of 2012. The Passport Service pilot on-line Appointment Booking Service was a success and this is now being upgraded further to make it easier for customers to engage with the Service. A Delegate Accreditation and Event Management service, available to all Departments, was put in place by my Department to support events held in Dublin under Ireland's recent Presidency of the EU. All new projects undertaken by the Department require approval of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, a process which includes a risk assessment around introducing new technologies and services.

My Department publishes all tenders on www.e-tenders.gov.ie, ensuring next generation technologies are part of future developments.