25-01-99 - Taoiseach Announces Action Plan to Implement Information Society in Ireland

Taoiseach Announces Action Planto Implement Information Society in Ireland

The Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D., today announced that the Government has adopted a comprehensive Action Plan to implement the Information Society in Ireland.

The Information Society is developing rapidly. Electronic commerce is growing phenomenally, on a global scale. The internet has opened up new means of providing information, services and commercial operations. Ireland is well placed to benefit, provided the necessary action is taken now.

Commenting on adoption of the plan, the Taoiseach stated that the Government has agreed that:

  • implementing the Information Society in Ireland is a matter of national importance;

  • a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to its implementation, under agreed target dates, is required;

  • each Minister will take a close personal interest in ensuring that the plan is put into effect;

  • individual Departments and agencies will normally be responsible for completing specific elements of the plan, but complementary structures are needed to monitor progress and to support implementation at a central level.

The Taoiseach also said that he personally is fully committed to the objective of implementing the Information Society, so that Ireland becomes a key location for companies engaging in electronic commerce, and to ensure that Irish citizens have access to electronic information and services.

In relation to electronic commerce, the Taoiseach said:

"We have had unprecedented economic performance in this country over the last number of years. I am determined that we should not rest on our laurels. Increasingly, the economy of the future will be digital. We have already become world leaders in the areas of software export and call centres, and we have a proven ability to attract foreign direct investment. Our young, dynamic, English-speaking workforce and our inherent creativity will help us to take a lead position in the emerging world of electronic commerce, multi-media and content provision."

The Government also recognises that developments in information and communication technologies (ICTs) can play a vital role in creating a more inclusive society and in delivering public services effectively and efficiently. The action plan includes measures to improve access to the Information Society for those who do not have computers in their homes. In addition, a significant part of the plan covers electronic delivery of public services, ranging from increased use of the internet as a means of providing information to developing fully interactive public services such as filing tax returns and payment of grants and benefits.

A number of organisations have published reports recently on electronic commerce and the Information Society. These include the Information Society Commission, the Advisory Committee on Telecommunications, the National Competitiveness Council and IBEC. They have all called for a co-ordinated approach, given that many different Departments and agencies have functional responsibility for various aspects of the Information Society.

Responding to these calls, the Taoiseach said:

"Hardly any other major issue of recent times has developed so quickly, concerns so many parts of public administration and is of such national importance as the development of the Information Society in all its forms. For these reasons, my Government has decided that, a co-ordinated support mechanism is required to ensure that progress is made on all fronts in a timely and cohesive manner."

A group of senior officials of relevant Government Departments, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, has been charged with overseeing implementation of the Action Plan. In addition, a small, cross-Departmental policy development team is to be established.

The comprehensive plan includes measures to develop further Ireland's telecommunications infrastructure in the wake of liberalisation of the telecommunications market. It proposes preparation of a specific programme to develop and promote electronic commerce and business opportunities. It also sets out the administrative and legislative measures needed to create a secure and reliable environment for electronic messaging and commerce, and contains measures to develop electronic delivery of public services including a number of fast-track pilot projects.

Many of the measures listed in the plan are not entirely new. In some cases work is already under way and in others the proposed measures have already been announced. Commenting on this, the Taoiseach said:

"The greatest value of the plan is that it provides a framework under which all the various tasks will be developed coherently. They will be taken forward by various departments or agencies, but as part of an overall project rather than in piecemeal fashion. The work on each aspect will take account of developments on other parts of the plan. The work will also be taken forward under predefined, interconnected target dates for completion."

The Action Plan is available at the Department of the Taoiseach Website, at http://www.irlgov.ie/taoiseach.

ENDS.