Vol. 476 No. 1
26 Mr. D. Wallace asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the impact to date of modern information technology on Irish society; and the exact steps, if any, he is taking to ensure that the benefits of technology facilitate a more even distribution of resources across all social groups. [3875/97]
The new information and communications technology products and services increasingly impact on the everyday lives of citizens. The term "information society" is widely used to describe the effects of these new technologies. These new technical developments have significant implications for many areas of Government policy, for example, communications, education, health, enterprise development, etc.
In January 1996, I established a steering committee with terms of reference to examine the main features of the information society, including the social and societal dimensions, with a view to elaborating a strategy and action plan for Ireland. That comprehensive report will be published in the near future. One of the challenges facing both Government and industry will be to have regard to the social aspects of the information society in the implementation of the strategy and action plan.
