Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2004
80 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the progress that has been made by his Department to date in implementing the recommendations of the Accenture report, Delivering a World Class Payments Environment, which was published in June 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19035/04]
View answerFollowing publication of the Information Society Commission report, prepared by Accenture and entitled, Delivering a World Class Payments Environment, in June 2003, the e-strategy group of Secretaries General met to consider the commission's report and agreed to prioritise a response. The e-strategy group established an ad hoc group of senior officials from key Departments to consider the issues involved in greater detail, to shape an appropriate response and to bring forward proposals for the consideration of the Cabinet committee on the information society. This includes examining the feasibility of setting a target date by which all payments to and from public sector organisations would be capable of being supported electronically. It also involves putting in place a process of dialogue and consultation with the key public and private sector stakeholders to agree a shared way forward.
Subsequent to a general council agreement in July 2003, all new entrants to the Civil Service who take up their positions on or after 1 October 2003 are paid by electronic fund transfer or EFT. It was also agreed that there should be a drive to increase substantially the proportion of existing staff paid in this way. It is intended that a memo will shortly be brought to Cabinet outlining the issues involved in moving to e-payments.
