05.11.2002 - Information Society- The State of the Nation

Digital Ireland and Ennis Information Age Services, e-ForumBreakfast

Part of the problem with the 'Information Society' agenda ist hat it means different things to different people - in fact, I'm sure that if one was to ask each of you individually here thismorning, in all probability we'd get a multitude of definitions on what it is and, indeed, how we might possibly get there. So I think it is important to establish a common level of understanding ofwhat we actually mean. 

To me, an Information Society is a one which makes it possiblefor people - whether at home, at school, at work - in fact in anysituation in which they might find themselves - to harness thepower and potential of Internet and related technologies to do whatthey want to do with ease. The emergence of this new technology base is at the heart of the latest communications revolution, the impact of which surpasses those which came about with the inventionof the steam locomotive and the telegraph.

That simple definition points, of course, to a whole lot of things that must be in place in order for it to become a reality.At a basic level, we must have an infrastructure that is affordableand accessible by everybody - and we must have a legal framework, proper training facilities, assistance for those who have resource difficulties etc., and perhaps, most importantly, we must have content - which is centred around what people can use and get outof the use of these technologies.

It goes without saying that the role and function of Governmentis primarily to enhance society, to protect society and to ensure that citizens have the opportunity to participate fully in society. In short, it is our job to do right by the citizen - and in this context, the citizen includes the commercial enterprise, the voluntary organisation as well as the individual. What we mean by 'doing right' is where the political process comes in where the'ideal' of society is distilled from the mash of political debate infused with philosophical thought.

But given Ireland's position as perhaps the most globalised economy in the World, our remit of protecting society includes taking whatever steps are necessary to ensure that we can continue to develop and prosper in what is, by any measure, a rapidlychanging economic environment - an environment which has seen dramatic changes throughout the World over the last two years.Facing that challenge means that we have to look at how we can moveforward - what we have to do to position Ireland to take maximum advantage in the unfolding economic developments as they arise.

In that context, there is a growing realisation, not just in Government, but in business and in society generally, that we need to look at developing Ireland as a 'knowledge economy' - an economy which is based on the manufacture and export of knowledge-based products and services. This is not a totally new economy. It is adevelopment of what many of us already do - but a development in a new context of ubiquitous connectivity and computing power, which creates opportunities for new business models, new markets and new ways of creating the wealth that will sustain us into the future.

That challenge faces all of us in all sectors. For Government,we have to create the conditions - or at least facilitate the creation of the conditions - to do business in a new way; to lead by example, to stimulate participation. For the private sector companies large and small - it means harnessing the power oftechnology to transact business in a new way; to create highervalue; to open up new markets; and to exploit our skills and expertise so that we can be leaders rather than followers.

As more and more people regularly use ICTs in their activities, people who lack access to these tools are at a growing disadvantage. In the past, the emphasis was put on technology and regulation. Though the ultimate goal was to serve the user, the user wasn't always at the centre. The Irish Government is very conscious of the need to focus on the user rather than on thetechnology.

The policy for the development of the Information Society wasset out earlier this year in 'NewConnections', covering the important area of infrastructure, the legal environment, e-Government, e-business, R&D, lifelonglearning and e-Inclusion. The most important element of that policyis clearly in the area of infrastructure, because without affordable access to the technology, there is no point in talking about an 'Information Society'. Indeed, since I took on this roleof Minister for the Information Society, I have been made well aware of this aspect of public policy and I will continue to pursue the issues surrounding this until it is resolved. 

All of us know that, in comparative terms, Ireland lags behind many other countries in terms of access to broadband technologies.I know that following the liberalisation of the telecomms marketand the enormous investments by telecomms operators - in other countries particularly - that we are currently at a disadvantage because of the size of the Irish market and the potential returnson investment. The Government's approach is to address the problemin such a way as to protect the potential private investment while at the same time creating the conditions conducive to competition.

It is important in any area of public policy that it is reviewed, especially in the light of changing circumstances. Mostof us know that technology continues to change rapidly. In recent years, that pace of change has been matched by a rapid change in World economic circumstances which has impacted on Ireland both economically and socially. So, given the state of flux that prevails and which is expected to prevail for some months to come,I think it is prudent to keep our policies under review. Inrelation to the development of our broadband infrastructure,Forfás have commissioned a review due for completion by the end of this month. I have also had the subject considered at theCabinet Committee on the Information Society and a closer look at the possibilities for focusing on the potential for DSL technologies is currently being looked at. 

It goes without saying that the key to affordability iscompetition - and it is important for us to continue to monitor andreview what can be done to further stimulate competition using other technologies (such as wireless, cable and digital terrestrial TV).

In terms of leading by example, the Government are committed toa programme of e-Government centred around creating electronicaccess to information and services using the public servicesbroker. The further development of e-Government will involveexploring how technology can improve the manner in which we developpolicies by creating a new collaborative environment. 

The e-Cabinet project,currently under way in the Department of the Taoiseach, is the flagship project for the development of new policy-processing mechanisms. While the e-Cabinet project is to facilitate on-line collaboration at Ministerial level, we will be pursuing the extension of this new electronic environment to Departments and agencies.

Perhaps the greatest potential for the use of technologies in Government is in the area of administration and administrative processes where it is now possible to streamline common services and look to new models of centralisation and decentralisation like those which we see in the private sector - and, in particular, in the large multi-national corporations. 

The public service has evolved over decades into autonomous entities and a culture of autonomy in terms of management and procedure, which may not now be the most suitable model in this new context of connectivity and collaboration. We now have an opportunity, if not an obligation, to take a new and radical lookat, not just the way the public services works, but at what is actually does in the discharge of its obligation to 'do right bythe citizen'.  It will mean that more and more of us will have to ask ourselves searching questions about our roles,responsibilities and obligations. 

Electronically enabling the public service has the potential todramatically impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of Government in a way that it was not even possible to contemplatejust a few years ago. And, in the current climate of demands forreductions in public expenditure, it makes all the more sense to critically examine and appraise the way Government is working at all levels.

Another area where Government can lead is in the area of publicprocurement. Public procurement is an area where the commercialworld meets Government to do business - as opposed to complying with regulations etc. It is an area where billions of Euro are transacted each year and where, by going on-line, the SME sector inparticular are 'encouraged' to engage in e-business. The 'e-Tenders 'website - where all public tender notices are published - has had adramatic impact on public tendering since it came into operation earlier this year. While it is only a beginning - and a very successful start - we will continue to develop the procurement process in the context of new EU Procurement Directives expected to come into operation next year, and work towards streamlining the process of tendering and procurement to make it more dynamic and supplier friendly over the next couple of years.

Of course, the 'e-World' is not all about big business, public tendering or administration. It is about participation and involvement by everybody. While many of our younger population are very much e-aware, there are a significant number of people who are not in a position to use or access the technology. Apart for the affordable access problem which I mentioned earlier - and in that context, I welcome the announcement by my colleague Minister DermotAhern, that he intends to issue a Ministerial Directive to the New Commission on Communications Regulation in relation to access, and the announcement by two of the service providers that they aregoing to offer flat rate access - there is the continuing need to ensure that everybody who wants access can have it. 

There are existing schemes using the public libraries and the CAIT initiative - and a number of local authorities have launched community-based initiatives to stimulate a greater level of participation. Last week, I launched the report of the Muintir na Tire ICT Project. This Project highlighted how a group of late adopters can be encouraged to become users and champions of ICTs. One of their conclusions was that the key is relevant content and services. There is no point inproviding people with websites and Internet access if they do nothave relevant content attached. Over the coming months we will be looking at what has been done to see where further intervention might be needed or possible so that we can improve the level of participation in a way which makes it relevant to people'slives.

The technologies of the Information Society also present us with valuable opportunities to address traditional problems of disadvantage and exclusion in our society. Let me give you anexample. The Government, through the Information Society Fund, iscurrently funding 'a virtual environment for children in hospital'called Áit Eile. Children, with chronic medicalconditions, suffer from a number of psychosocial problems due to feelings of isolation. And this isolation can hinder their treatment and recovery. Áit Eile is an online network for these children. It offers, in an intuitive way, e-mail, chat and video-conferencing. It enables the children to research their illness and bring together children elsewhere with a similarillness. And it enables entertainment and distraction while creating a sense of community and belonging. 

I spoke earlier about the need to focus on the development ofthe 'knowledge Economy' in Ireland - so that we can continue toprosper in the global context. It is important to bear in mind that Ireland, with a population of about 4 million people, does not represent a significant market for bigger countries, and is geographically challenged on the edge of continental Europe. We are also facing increasing competition from lower cost manufacturing countries that makes it more and more important for us to remain competitive in terms of cost and value. 

In a knowledge economy, people need to shift their thinking to the creation of knowledge and expertise - and to think of themselves as knowledge workers who are in the business ofdeveloping skills on a continuous basis. Many now speak of the end of the concept of a 'job' for life and the emergence of the conceptof 'work' for life.  That means that people are in a positionto stay in touch with education and training on an ongoing basis -and that the conditions exist for them to participate in this new environment. But making that shift requires a change in thinking on the part of both employers and employees; it is not a burden that should or can be born by one sector.  It is incumbent on all of us to open our minds to new ways of education and training - to new concepts of employment and work - and to a new type of economy based on trading skills and expertise in the international arena.That is a major challenge facing us - and, of course, a major opportunity.

Guinness Storehouse, St Jamess Gate,Dublin