Ruairí Quinn
Question:193 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, the Government has to conduct a public information campaign in connection with the millennium bug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22389/99]
Written Answers. - Computer Programmes.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:195 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance the nature of the work being undertaken by the national year 2000 emergencies co-ordination committee; the number of times it has met since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22387/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 195 together.
The national year 2000 emergencies co-ordination committee was established by the Government to oversee and co-ordinate the year 2000 contingency preparations and emergency management arrangements of the key national utility, infrastructure, health, security, financial and business sectors, so as to mitigate potential disruptions to society in the event of problems arising from year 2000 related incidents and/or millennium celebrations. The committee is representative of the business and financial sectors and Departments that provide the vital services necessary to our society and our economy.
The committee has met three times, on 22 September, 28 October and 18 November, and will meet again this Thursday, 16 December. The committee will remain in place until all possible year 2000 related disruptions have been avoided or have been dealt with.
The committee has reviewed the general state of readiness, and the information co-ordination and emergency management arrangements among the sectors, in the light of the interdependencies between them. To facilitate and develop the review procedure, the committee established an emergency services sub-group and a financial services sub-group to further the work of identifying interdependencies between sectors and ensuring that effective information and management co-ordination procedures were in place. Based on the work of the sub-groups, the committee is satisfied with the state of readiness of the sectors and that effective co-ordination arrangements are in place between the key sectors which will enable a speedy response in the event of a problem arising.
As regards public information on the year 2000 issue, it should be emphasised that the "millennium bug" could potentially impact on business rather than on households or household appliances. Accordingly, a comprehensive business awareness campaign is being carried out to raise awareness of the problem and provide guidance under the aegis of the Department of enterprise, Trade and Employment. The campaign includes a guide which issued to 150,000 business nationwide, seminars, a national Y2K information service for business free of charge, and TV and radio advertising campaigns.
With regard to the provision of information to the public, each of the key sectors involved in the provision of services to the public, and which are represented at the national year 2000 emergencies co-ordination committee, are providing information to their customers, e.g., the banking sector has conducted a campaign on money and the millennium; the key public utilities, road, rail and air services; gas, electricity, postal, telecommunications and broadcasting services are also engaged in publicity campaigns. In addition, under the auspices of the national co-ordination committee these service providers, including health boards, the local authorities, public utilities and banks etc. are placing advertisements in the local press detailing their holiday arrangements and, in some cases, contact telephone numbers, where necessary. The key point that I would like to emphasise is that preparations and arrangements are being made to ensure that we have business as usual during the millennium changeover period and that, in the event that any issues arise over the millennium changeover period, they will be dealt with as quickly as possible.