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Electronic Commerce

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2019

Tuesday, 26 March 2019

Questions (257)

Michael McGrath

Question:

257. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress of the digital signatures working group; if recommendations been made by the working group; if not, when recommendations will be forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13538/19]

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Written answers

Although my Department is not participating in a digital signatures working group, nor am I aware of the existence of such a group, there has been some work carried out by my Department in this regard last year. In February 2018, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) within my Department surveyed the current digital signatures, public key infrastructure and the European regulatory landscape as set out by EU Regulation 910/2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market (eIDAS). On foot of this survey, a further review of our national legislation was carried out on digital signatures.

The culmination of this work arrived at recommendations relevant to digital signatures and the facilitation of the increase use within Ireland. The recommendations included the establishment of a body responsible for the regulatory oversight of Trust Service Providers (issuers of digital signatures, digital certificates and related digital services) operating in Ireland under the eIDAS regulation, a requirement for the operating of such providers; and the potential merit in a review of the Electronic Commerce Act 2000, regarding its alignment with eIDAS. My Department is working with my colleagues in the Department of Communication, Climate Action and Environment, with responsibility for digital signatures, to advance the implementation of these recommendations.

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