Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 6

Written Answers. - Computer Programmes.

David Stanton

Ceist:

368 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of contingency plans in relation to the Y2K computer problems in the event of a systems failure in his Department and all agencies under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25447/99]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

My Department and the bodies under the aegis of my Department have prepared detailed contingency plans in the event that there are systems failures arising from year 2000 computer related problems.

The plans, which address all critical business functions of the Department and its agencies were prepared over the summer period and were subjected to review by the internal audit unit of the Department. The plans address areas such as pre-millennium testing, preparation of plans for reversion to manual procedures, in a worst case scenario, and identification of tasks to be carried out over the millennium changeover period itself. Summaries of the plans have been submitted to the interdepartmental year 2000 monitoring committee.

Apart from the preparations for possible IT systems failure due to Y2K related problems, contingency planning, focusing on public order issues, has also been undertaken in my Department.

This planning process, involving the Garda Síochána, courts, prisons and of course the Department itself, has focused on the possibility of major public disorder associated with the larger than usual new year celebrations which are expected. The plans of my Department and the Garda Síochána have been passed to both the Interdepartmental Year 2000 Monitoring Committee and the National Year 2000 Emergency Co-ordination Committee. Both committees have expressed satisfaction with the measures being taken.