THE GOVERNMENT accepted a Fine Gael private members' motion dealing with the expansion of e-government.
This followed talks between Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt and Fine Gael's communications spokesman Simon Coveney. It is the first time in the current Dáil that an Opposition motion has received the unanimous backing of the House.
Mr Coveney said that the commitments made in the motion represented a major development, especially in the light of the "waste and underachievement" which had characterised the Government's management of past Government strategies.
"It is very welcome also in the context of an overall Government approach to ICT policy that is stuttering at best, with below average broadband penetration and speeds, poor levels of computer literacy, and an overall ranking on 'e-readiness' that has fallen to 21st globally according to the Economist Intelligence Unit." Mr Coveney said that agreement had been reached on a text committing the Government to implementing a comprehensive system of e-government within two years.
Commitments included the provision of a secure online ID and payments system as a basis on which Government departments could deliver a whole series of e-government services.
He said there were to be online transactions available for a series of Government services, including applications for driving and haulage licences, student and housing grants, birth, marriage and death certificates, procurement and tendering, planning permission and objections, health services information, public transport information, payment of court fines and commercial rates.
There was also, said Mr Coveney, to be a system of assigning responsibility for projects, publishing measurable targets, budgeting and Oireachtas reporting, which would ensure that the overspend and delays characterising previous e-government strategies would not be repeated.
Mr Coveney said that the motion also called on the Government to consider a whole series of innovative solutions for e-government, including the use of text messaging and mobile phone-based web access, the use of interactive digital TV for government services, as well as low-cost online tools and software instead of expensive consultants.
The Government, he said, was also committed to ensuring the expansion of e-government was accompanied by rigorous procedures to guard against data theft.
Speaking during the resumed debate last night, Labour communications spokeswoman Liz McManus welcomed the agreement. She said that the Comptroller and Auditor General's recent report was not just an inventory of the shortcomings of the e-government strategy.
"It also offers us clear direction for the future. Its recommendations specifically pinpoint the lack of essential management principles which is startling and reveal a serious deficiency in strategic management and offers good advice."
