NI commits to future vision of e-government

Connection to government services will be as simple as changing a TV channel, claimed the Director of the Central Information Technology Unit NI, Mr Des Vincent, as he pledged “total commitment” in bringing ground-breaking electronic technology to Northern Ireland.

Speaking at a seminar in Belfast on Interactive Digital Television and the Public Sector, Mr Vincent told delegates of a future vision of accessibility of government services through electronic technology would in time become a reality with preparations underway as television broadcasting moves from analogue to digital.

“In the future,” he said, “from the comfort of your living room, people will be able to access everything from passport and car tax forms to applications for benefits at the touch of a button.

“In this Age of Technology, television is a major way of reaching the public and the way ahead for many government services. Almost every household has at least one television and almost a third of people in Northern Ireland have access to digital television and internet via a personal computer. More and more people are availing of digital television and the internet. This means that even people living in the remotest of areas will be able to have easy access to government services.”

Mr Vincent said the target was to make a quarter of key services available electronically by next year, with all key services accessible by 2005.

However, he emphasised that electronic service delivery would be an additional way of doing things, not a replacement, and that government offices and the telephone would not disappear.

Mr Vincent said the onus was on government to make sure whatever solutions were implemented would be easy to use, but that e-Government would “simplify and speed up many processes with technology improving the effectiveness of how government business is carried out.”

The Interactive Digital Television seminar was held at the Holiday Inn on Ormeau Avenue.

Delegates included representatives of Government Departments, District Councils, the NI Civil Service Editorial Board, those with responsibility for crafting and delivering e-Business strategies, and those representing service delivery organisations which are considering e-delivery. (SP)