Vol. 487 No. 1
1 Mr. Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the progress to date of the working group within his Department set up to examine and assess problems for information systems in regard to the year 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1595/98]
In January this year my Department's Year 2000 working group submitted its first report to the Government's Year 2000 monitoring committee. This report included a work schedule that will ensure all critical systems in use in my Department will be Year 2000 compliant by the end of this year.
Some non-critical work is scheduled for the summer of 1999 at the latest.
Year 2000 projects have been prioritised and three members of my Department have been assigned to the project.
Will the Taoiseach agree that, apart from the implications for the administrative systems in the public service, the millennium bug has serious implications for the general economy and society in terms of air safety, pollution control, security systems etc? What steps are being taken to co-ordinate the efforts in the public and private sectors to address the problems associated with the millennium bug?
The Deputy is extending the scope of his original question which related solely to my Department. I assure him that Year 2000 projects in all Departments and agencies are monitored by the Centre for Management and Organisation Development in the Department of Finance.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the Department most exposed from an operational and cost point of view for recipients and taxpayers is the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs? Is he satisfied that this Department has the necessary resources, is sufficiently focused on the issue and will not suffer the same denial it suffered in relation to social welfare fraud?
I raised this issue with all Departments when I met them last month. The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is well on track in regard to this work. There is a huge amount of work involved in changing the technology and preparing for the year 2000. Most Departments are well on schedule, while those which are behind what one would like them to be have been asked to speed up the process.
I remind Deputies that the question relates to the Taoiseach's Department.
Did the Taoiseach say that some aspects of the computer operations of his Department will not be Year 2000 compliant by the end of this year? Is he aware of the advice by experts in the field that this is very dangerous in that at least 12 months are needed to test the compliance of systems? If the initial work is not completed by the end of the year there will not be the necessary 12 months within which to test the systems. The Taoiseach should look at the systems which will be behind schedule at the end of the year to ensure there is no risk.
Has the Taoiseach put proposals in place to delist suppliers or firms which deal with his Department and which are not Year 2000 compliant on the grounds that if they are not Year 2000 compliant then the Department cannot be either? What outside expertise has the Taoiseach hired to assist his Department in becoming Year 2000 compliant or is he relying solely on the facilities in the Department of Finance?
The areas scheduled for the summer of next year are non-critical.
What does that mean?
That assessment was not made by me but by people with the necessary technical qualifications. The work schedule outlined in the report of my Department's Year 2000 working group will be completed by the end of this year.
I do not know of any companies delisted by the Department but there may be some. The Centre for Management and Organisation Development in the Department of Finance which has been co-ordinating all the work has hired outside experts.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the Prime Ministers of Holland and Britain have taken a lead in co-ordinating the efforts of their countries in dealing with the Year 2000 problem? Has he any plans to adopt such a leadership position or to assign responsibility for the Year 2000 problem to a specific Minister?
This matter was discussed over a dinner at Christmas and I am not aware that other Prime Ministers have taken on the role of co-ordinating the efforts of their countries. However, they may be taking an interest in it. The Minister for Finance and the Centre for Management and Organisation Development have been co-ordinating the efforts in this area. I went through this issue with all Departments when I met them last month. The problems with credit cards and other issues have been well reported in the media. I am conscious of the need to have the work completed on time.
What auditing of suppliers has the Taoiseach's Department undertaken to determine whether they are Year 2000 compliant or whether they should be delisted as authorised suppliers? What procedure will be put in place by his Department and other Departments to audit suppliers to ensure they are Year 2000 compliant? Will the Taoiseach agree that the biggest problems with Year 2000 compliance will obtain in small firms in the private sector and that if tough action is not taken early more serious consequences will arise later?
What are the non-critical areas in his Department which will not be Year 2000 compliant until well into next year? Is he aware that one cannot be late in so far as this is concerned, that when 1 January 2000 dawns it will be too late and there will be no going back?
I do not have information on the delisting of companies as it was not part of the initial question. If the Deputy puts down a question on the matter I will get the information for him. The Department of the Taoiseach and other Departments are well on target in terms of the work. Much of the work in my Department has already been completed. On non-critical work, I am not aware of the precise nature of this but the people qualified in this area are satisfied that everything will be in order by the end of the year, with some remaining work to be completed next year. I trust that the people looking after this matter are technically competent and properly qualified.
On the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs——
I remind the Deputy the question relates to the Department of the Taoiseach. I suggest he put down a separate question on that matter.
The Taoiseach indicated in his reply that the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is well ahead of its schedule for compliance——
That is not referred to in the question.
You have not heard my question yet and it may well relate to the question that was put down. Will the Taoiseach, as a matter of urgency, check with the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to ensure what he is told is accurate? Will he bear in mind that almost 800,000 or 900,000 people depend each week on a payment from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs and if the system cannot generate cheques automatically by computer, thousands of people will be in chaos financially? Will he also bear in mind that pension and child benefit books must be produced well in advance of the year of issue and, therefore, work on generating those books must be done if not late this year at least early in 1999? Those issues need to be addressed and the House needs assurance that this huge proportion of our population who depend on weekly cheques from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs will not be left waiting. A delay of even one day for a family depending on a social welfare cheque may cause severe hardship.
I am calling Deputy Gilmore.
I asked a specific question. Will the Taoiseach check with the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs on those issues?
In response to an earlier question I said that I raised those issues with the Secretary General of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs and that Department is well aware of the timescale involved.
Given the Taoiseach's acknowledgement that work on what he described as non-essential areas will not be complete by the year 2000, has he considered the possibility of the State's exposure to liability if something goes wrong in that regard? Has he sought advice from the Attorney General on that matter?
He should set up the tribunal in advance.
I did not say that work would not be complete by the year 2000; I said that non-critical areas would not be finally scheduled until the summer of next year.
