Publication
Blockchain
From Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
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Blockchain is an information storage technology connected with consensus mechanisms and decentralized information storage. Essentially the exact same copy of the information is stored by all relevant stakeholders, and simultaneously updated when a change to the information occurs. This fundamentally distinguishes blockchain from traditional centralized data stores such as databases.
The above ensures there is no single point of failure and if one copy of the blockchain is compromised by malicious attack, the discrepancy between it and the other legitimate copies will be immediately apparent. Given that updates are only made to legitimate copies of the blockchain, the compromised copy soon becomes redundant.
Public Service organisations around the world are either already using blockchain or are investigating ways blockchain can solve information storage problems where trust between parties can become an issue. Some examples are:
• Knowing definitively who owns a piece of property is important when resolving disputes, and while the person who has the evidence of ownership in their possession has a strong claim to owning the property, proving ownership can be costly.
• Being able to access the definitive history of how the raw materials of food or pharmaceutical products were sourced. The recording of regulatory processing steps and the details of how the final goods were transported can be permanently recorded on a blockchain.
Your organisation can determine if Blockchain is a suitable to some of your information storage needs by considering the following questions:
• Does your organisation occasionally need to manage contractual dealings between different parties even where there is no trust relationship between them?
• Does your organisation need to keep a record of the transaction details between several parties? Is there sufficient transparency or accountability regarding the history and details of these transactions?
• For those information requirements that meet the first two criteria, is your current system overly complex, overly expensive, labour intensive or prone to human error?
• Is your current transaction database vulnerable to fraud, cyberattack or human error?
Introductory Guide to Blockchain for Public Servants
An easy to understand introduction of the main points of blockchain as it pertains to public services.
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Blockchain - Develop, Deploy and Test Your First Smart Contract
An easy to understand introduction to the mechanics of writing and testing Smart Contracts.
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The video below from Public Service Innovation Week 2020 explores the potential and current use of blockchain in the Public Service:
Department of Finance discussion paper on virtual currencies and the blockchain technology that underpins them:
Outline of the EU blockchain strategy including useful links relating to partnerships, legal frameworks and infrastructure developments:
The European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI) is a joint initiative from the European Commission and the European Blockchain Partnership (EBP) to deliver EU-wide cross-border public services using blockchain technology:
Publication analysing seven blockchain-based services developed in Europe, with an active participation of public authorities from both national and local levels:
The European Blockchain Regulatory Sandbox establishes a pan-European framework for regulatory dialogues to increase legal certainty for innovative blockchain solutions:
As part of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform’s investigation into emerging technologies, we welcomed on secondment Dr Kosala Yapa Bandara from Science Foundation Ireland who investigated and documented a number of Public Sector specific use cases.
The study below catalogs actual or substantially proposed blockchain implementations developed or being developed with the specific aim of delivering a public service:
Detailed Analysis of Blockchain Pilots and Applications in Highly Impacted Areas
A Detailed Analysis of Blockchain Pilots and Applications in Highly Impacted Areas
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The Emerging Technology Network works to encourage the adoption of emerging technologies such as RPA and AI in the delivery of public services in accordance with Government policies. To find out more about or apply to join the network email rpa@per.gov.ie