Under the New Connections Action Plan on the Information Society, the Government is committed to progressing a national e-payments strategy. This work is proceeding under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach through a steering group, on which my Department is represented, and through the Information Society Commission, which is an independent advisory body to Government. The main focus of attention at present is a consultancy study, due to be completed by March, which will inform the development of recommendations to Government. The Irish Payment Services Organisation, IPSO, and other interested parties are actively involved in the whole process.
I understand that the steering group received a proposal from IPSO last year for the development of a universal account system. That proposal will be taken into consideration by the steering group when it is formulating recommendations for Government in due course.
Regulatory issues are just one of the many aspects which will need to be carefully considered in the development of a national e-payment strategy. The consultancy study, to which I referred, will address that and other relevant aspects. Any national e-payments system which may be proposed will have to be in compliance with national and EU competition law requirements.
