Irish customs officers get mobile scanner: A mobile x-ray scanner is the latest high-tech development in the Irish government's fight against smuggling. The truck-mounted x-ray scanner, which can be deployed in 30 minutes, is suitable for scanning shipping containers, trailers, cars, vans and coaches and will be deployed across all Irish ferry terminals and ports. The device will be operated by two three-officer teams of specially trained Revenue personnel hunting for illegal drugs, contraband, explosives, firearms and stowaways. Revenue signed a EUR3 million contract with Chinese x-ray manufacturer Nuctech in December 2004 that includes device maintenance and training for customs officers. The system uses a high-energy linear accelerator to generate x-rays which are fed through imaging software. Officers then study real-time pictures to detect illegal cargos. For more on this story, see ElectricNews.net.
UK MPs approve controversial ID card scheme: The UK government looks likely to go ahead with its plans to launch compulsory identity cards for citizens. In the latest development in the controversial saga over the introduction of biometric ID cards, the House of Commons has voted to make it obligatory for passport applicants to also apply for an ID card from 2008. The Commons decision on 13 February saw MPs vote 310 to 279 in favour of making the scheme compulsory, overturning an earlier vote by the House of Lords to let citizens choose whether or not to apply for the cards. Under the plan, citizens who are renewing their passports will have to consent to having their biometric details registered in a central, national database. The ID card plan will now be returned to the House of Lords for approval, but commentators do not expect the bill to be blocked.
Northern Ireland rolls out staff computer scheme: The Northern Ireland e-Government Unit has launched a Home Computing Initiative (HCI) for staff working in the public sector. Known as MyHomePC, the scheme aims to encourage civil servants to develop their IT skills by offering them computer equipment on loan, with a low-cost option to purchase. The scheme has been available to private sector employers, but now six government organisations are due to roll out the scheme. In this first phase of the initiative, employees of the NI Housing Executive, the NI Fire & Rescue Service, the Down & Lisburn Trust, the United Hospitals Trust, the Ulster Community Hospitals Trust and Derry City Council will be offered laptops, PCs and computer accessories from BT Home Computing, Nicator and Fujitsu Siemens Computers. Under the scheme, the computer equipment is not subject to income tax or National Insurance liability. For more information about the project, visit Home Computing Initiatives.
Macedonia launches online jobs service: The government of Macedonia has rolled out an online public sector recruitment service, reports online newswire Internews. The service is proving hugely popular among job applicants, with online applications doubling within two weeks of launch and around 75 percent of all job applications now coming in via the internet. The system was created by the Macedonian e-Gov/IMPACT Project, an initiative funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The system was specifically designed to be easy-to-use in order to encourage citizen take-up, which it was feared could be hampered by Macedonia's low internet penetration rate (just 19 percent). The cost of applying for jobs was also reduced for those using the online service, and a public awareness campaign was launched to promote the new service.
Filipino government to re-design portal site: The government of the Philippines is set to re-design its portal site, www.gov.ph, reports Filipino newswire INQ7.net. The Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) has allocated PHP110 million (EUR1.8 million) for the site re-design and the development of a payment gateway for the portal. The National Computer Center (NCC) is now accepting private sector bids for the re-design contract; a PHP60 million contract to develop the payments gateway was awarded to the Development Bank of the Philippines-Data Center Inc (DBP-DCI) last year. Until now, private sector volunteers have been maintaining the government portal for free. The e-payments system is expected to launch this month, and the re-designed site is due to be finished "within the year", according to a government official.
Autor: Sylvia Leatham
Quelle: ElectricNews, 15.02.2006
