Ooooh, a blog post with a picture in it! Now there’s a change!
Anyway… the Dutch government edged ahead of the Irish government in terms of technology for the new year as they’ve launched DigiiD, their plan to get everyone into the country under the one ID for all public related services (passport, welfare) etc. I’m not exactly up on reading Dutch but if you want to have a go, check out the official website here.
Isnt this like what Ireland want to enforce? An ID card for everyone that tells everything about them??
No just an id number and password, all or most government services can be accessed and contacted online. So you do not have to stand in line and so forth. Also all application forms, information, and everything the government has in their files that concerns you can be accessed.
sean… its pretty much what the irish government are going for… in the hope they’ll streamline stuff. you can already pay your esb and eircom bills online, renew your car tax, pay your business vat, handle income returns and the rest so its a good start…
vincent… thanks for the post, in reference to it though are you suggesting that the information the government has is accessible in the online environment or that their information on you is freely available to you alone (such as our Freedom of Information act)?
Their information on you is freely available to you alone. It purpose is that it is more easy to contact the government, fill in your tax bills or ask for a license and more of that kind of stuff. Until now you had to go to the specific governmental branches and wait in line. Now you can do it at home or make an appointment online.
Although the government is linking databases, for example you receive an monthly income from the government because you’re unemployed. The social services can access the tax database to see if you are not earning money on the side. An other feature is that when you move from one city to the next this new local social service administration can see all notes from the previous local service administrator. For example if you were applying for jobs if you have a psychical problem that prevents you from getting a job. So the client doesn’t have to start all over again or can’t flee to an other city to escape a fine for not actively searching for a job. But that is an other system than the one described here.