John Bruton
Question:20 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the discussion document on IT access for all which was recently published by the Information Society Commission. [23148/99]
Ceisteanna–Questions. - IT Access.
The Information Society Commission published the document referred to by the Deputy at the end of October to facilitate a wide debate on the important issue of widespread and easy access to information technology and the Internet for all.
The document examines various options for allowing people to access the Internet in public places such as libraries, Government offices, and schools. It also deals with the issue of providing everyone with an e-mail address. It is particularly appropriate that this document is out now as we are in the midst of the Netd@ys initiative being promoted by the Information Society Commission, to allow people find out more about the Internet.
Recent research has shown that, while the uptake of the new technology in Ireland is increasing very significantly, access remains spread unevenly across society. It is vital that we take steps to correct this, to avoid creating a two tier information society as between those who have access and those who do not.
Widespread access is important for a number of reasons. We want the entire population to be able to share in the benefits of the information society. The Internet opens up great opportunities for people to communicate with each other, to establish new links with people of like interests, concerns or circumstances, and to access information or services instantly. The level of access and use of computers and the Internet in society is increasingly seen as an international benchmark of preparedness for the information society, not least by multinational companies making location decisions. The Internet is now used extensively within the public service as a means of providing information to the public. In addition, a host of improved service delivery options will become available, with greater efficiency and more effective use of resources in public administration. Just yesterday, I launched a set of guidelines for public sector websites which focus on making our websites more user friendly.
Provision of public access points to information technology and the Internet will provide opportunities for people who do not have computers in their own homes to avail of and explore the new technologies in a structured environment. Some of the options being considered will also allow for on-site instruction or assistance by skilled staff. This will be important for people who are unfamiliar with or fearful of new technology and for parents who want to catch up with their children, or who have concerns about children accessing harmful material on the Internet.
The discussion document sets out the various options for consideration in a clear and structured manner. The commission has invited submissions by 30 November and I encourage anyone who has any views on this matter to respond. If the Deputy, or any other Deputy, has views I am sure the commission would be happy to receive them. I understand the commission intends to prepare a follow-up paper with specific recommendations once it has considered the submissions received. This is an important and worthwhile exercise and I commend the commission for it.
Will there be a directory of e-mail addresses and, if so, how will we avoid people being sent an enormous amount of junk mail once their e-mail address is generally accessible? Has the Taoiseach considered whether the ISDN line, which is being promoted as state of the art for e-mail use, is state of the art or whether we should leap over it and invest in more advanced technologies for speed of data transmission?
The e-mail addresses of the Deputies are already in the telephone directory and I am not sure how—
We have no money to buy goods so we do not get junk mail.
I agree computers in the home are a vital part of the equation. In terms of how this will be done, the Information Society Commission has said people are organising this from a commercial viewpoint. It is the commission's view that it can be done in a more structured and protected way to avoid some of the difficulties to which the Deputy referred. Commercial companies in the business are already orchestrating this and are operating to their advantage.
The Information Society Commission's main concern is that many people will be left out. Although Netd@ys is having a good effect, it will not get it right in one go. It is, however, giving people access and it is in libraries, local authorities, community offices, unemployment action groups and so on. The Information Society Commission believes the best way to do this is for it to be organised, for the State to be involved and for it to be done across the board so there can be restrictions rather than have commercial interests taking over. The commission believes it will be done one way or another and that there will be some control if it is involved.
Does the Taoiseach agree the cost of calls will be key to whether people use the net, particularly if the cost is too high? Is the Taoiseach satisfied that we are doing enough to promote competition in this area to bring costs down?
Various figures have been put forward on how much costs will be brought down when installations in respect of global connectivity and global crossing are in next year. Costs may be one sixteenth of today's costs and that will create an enormous amount of competition.
On the second part of the Deputy's question, he is correct, and when the president of Intel was in Ireland, I took the opportunity to spend one hour with him. We had a fascinating discussion on where things are heading over the next five or ten years. He believed that we would have several global crossings in this country over the next decade but did not recommend that it should all happen together. He said in his view, and he has considerable experience in the United States and elsewhere, this will hit us sooner than we think. He predicted that in five years, we would have a number of these operators and that costs would be one eightieth of the 1999 figure. I would find it difficult to argue with a man who has probably led the Internet revolution. If that is the case, cost will not be a factor in five years' time but perhaps other issues will. The president of Intel believes this will change the world in terms of costs, access, education and so on in the first five years of the millennium.
A final question.
The Deputy is taking up time allocated to the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs.
I am sorry but this is the last question.
Very briefly.
Does the Taoiseach agree the development he just described will radically alter the philosophy of education in the sense that education in the past was about the imparting of information but now information will be freely available to everyone at the touch of a button and that the role of education in the future will be to train people to have judgment and discernment to know what information is relevant and what is not?
Of course it will change things dramatically. The technology fund, which this Government set up, R&D and the money which needs to be spent on these initiatives aimed directly at homes to assist people will change society. The action plan on the information society has highlighted some of the issues involved. It will result in considerable change over the next five to ten years.