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Fujitsu Awarded Irish Courts Service Digital Audio Recording Contract

January 24, 2008

The Irish Courts Service has awarded a contract for the delivery and management of a Digital Audio Recording (DAR) system in courtrooms nationwide to Fujitsu. As part of this contract, which is valued in excess of €16m, Fujitsu will provide a fully managed service including the provision of the underlying DAR system, a secure data storage environment and the subsequent production and delivery of court transcripts as required.

Commenting on the award of the DAR contract to Fujitsu, PJ Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive Officer, Courts Service said; “Digital Audio Recording will replace the existing stenography system which has been in place for many years. The courts are not immune to developments in technology generally and this new system, based as it is on digital technology, will provide Judges with increased levels of support within the courtroom and is a further step in our overall change modernisation programmme.”

Initial implementation of the system will be on a pilot basis in a small number of courtrooms throughout the country. This pilot will be followed by an extensive implementation programme which will see the deployment of the system to all courtrooms nationwide.

On completion, proceedings in all courtrooms will be recorded providing an accurate record of evidence in all cases which can be subsequently accessed for the preparation of transcripts or for playback either within the courtroom or otherwise as required.

“Digital Audio Recording is being used successfully in courts in many jurisdictions across the globe. The ambitious DAR programme is testimony to the progressive nature of the Courts Service team and their ICT strategy. There is no doubt that the system and processes that will be put in place here will be among the most advanced in the world, said Regina Moran, CEO of Fujitsu. “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract and look forward to implementing our customer’s vision for this area of the Irish Courts Service.”

As part of this contract, Fujitsu will be providing an ‘on request’ transcript service using the specialist skills of Merrill Legal, who are the current providers of stenography services to the Irish Courts. On receipt of a request for a transcript of all or part of the proceedings in a case, the Digital Audio file will be accessed automatically, via a secure private network, by Merrill Legal, who will undertake the transcription and deliver the transcribed material.

Key Benefits of the system include:

This new DAR system, which will replace the stenographer system, will provide a cost effective and convenient way of extending the availability of recording of proceedings to all courts nationwide.
Fast and accurate playback of evidence with the courtroom will be available to Judges in all courtrooms which will be particularly beneficial in relation to clarification of pieces of evidence provided orally.
Recordings of proceedings will also be available to Judges on request at the end of each day’s evidence and will also be available to assist Judges in preparing their summing up for the Jury in criminal cases.
The facility for Judges will be further enhanced by the provision of a facility that will enable them to make their own private electronic notes of court proceedings which may be synchronized and linked to specific evidence presented within the courtroom.
A recording of proceedings will be available to the High Court when hearing Judicial Reviews

The contract was awarded to Fujitsu following a competitive Open EU Procurement process and is for an initial period of five years with the option to extend for a further two years. Fujitsu has a track record in successfully delivering solutions and services to the Irish Courts Service, having been awarded the contract to provide ICT Managed Services in 2003.

John Coyle, Director of ICT Courts Service commenting on the potential for the DAR system within the Courts Service said; “The introduction of Digital Audio Recording is a further step on our path to introduce modern technology to the court system where its introduction can provide efficiencies and value added services which contribute to the administration of justice”.

The Digital Audio Recording system pilot is due to commence in March 2008.

Fujitsu in Ireland

Fujitsu in Ireland: Fujitsu consults, designs, builds and operates innovative IT solutions and services, helping customers in Ireland realise the benefits of the connected economy. With some 600 people, we operate throughout the island, providing an end-to-end IT service to clients in business and government. Some of Fujitsu Ireland’s clients include IIB Bank, An Garda Síochána, Dept of Transport, Dept of Family and Social Affairs, Vodafone Ireland, Airtricity and Woodies DIY

About Fujitsu Services

Fujitsu Services is one of the leading IT services companies in Europe, Middle East and Africa . It has an annual turnover of £1.74 billion, (€2.58 billion) employs 14,500 people and operates in over 20 countries. It designs, builds and operates IT systems and services for customers in the financial services, telecom, retail, utilities and government markets. Its core strength is the delivery of IT infrastructure management and outsourcing across desktop, networking and data centre environments, together with a full range of related services, from consulting through integration and deployment. Headquartered in London , Fujitsu Services is the European-centred IT services arm of the Fujitsu Group. The Fujitsu Group is a US$45 billion (€37 billion) leader in customer-focused IT systems and services for the global marketplace.

Eileen Gallagher

Phone: 087 911 9954
E-mail: eileen.gallagher@thegallagherconsultancy.com