Ruairí Quinn
Question:11 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the progress to date in the work of the Information Society Commission. [24324/99]
Ceisteanna – Questions. Departmental Estimates. - Information Society Commission.
John Bruton
Question:12 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the progress to date in the work of the Information Society Commission and the recently concluded Netd@ys initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24916/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.
Since its inception the Information Society Commission has produced two annual reports and has published the results of a number of surveys which it organised. It has hosted a range of seminars on various topics related to the information society and participated in many events and functions to promote the benefits and opportunities of the digital age. As its past activities are well documented in the two annual reports, I will confine my reply to recent or current activities.
Much of the work of the commission is of an ongoing nature in areas such as raising awareness and promoting the benefits of the information society. The commission's eight advisory groups continue to meet on a regular basis to discuss various aspects of developing the information society, and the work of these groups often gives rise to recommendations which then feed into the implementation process.
In July, the commission published a major report entitled Building a Capacity for Change – Lifelong Learning in the Information Society. This report raises a number of issues and sets out recommendations on lifelong learning which is increasingly seen as vital in the ever changing world of the information society. Last month, the commission published the results of its latest survey on access to and use of technology among the general public. This survey shows that huge progress has been made in the past 12 months. It also shows that more needs to be done, particularly to avoid a two-tier information society, between those who have access and those who do not. The results of the commission's business community survey will be published next month. The commission recently published a discussion document on improving public access to the Internet for the population generally. I explained the purpose and content of this document to the House a few weeks ago. It is available either on the commission's website or directly from the commission secretariat. The commission also took part recently in an information event aimed specifically at the farming and rural organisations to explain the benefits of new technology, and a similar event for organisations which represent elderly people. Other targeted sessions like these are also being arranged.
Last year the commission sponsored a television series called TechTV for RTE. The commission is currently examining options for a new TV series. The business awareness campaign which the commission is running with IBEC is continuing. This programme, which is part funded by the EU, involves a series of seminars around the country, with particular emphasis on small and medium sized companies. The most recent seminars were in Waterford on 21 October and Ennis on 24 November 1999. Questionnaires are given to the seminar participants and the feedback is very positive with most saying they will take action within six months as a result of the seminar.
Turning to Netd@ys, from 13 to 21 November, the commission and the National Centre for Technology in Education organised the national Netd@ys initiative in Ireland. Eircom was the main sponsor for the initiative which sought to build on what, in previous years, was aimed exclusively at school children. This year the target was much broader and in addition to the hundreds of schools which took part, more than 200 public access points were set up around the country by chambers of commerce, libraries, Internet cafes, Eircom stores and IT centres. These all provided free Internet access and demonstrations for the public, and the schools also invited parents and the public generally to take part. Many businesses and public bodies also participated in Netd@ys, typically by arranging Internet access events for employees.
I thank the Taoiseach for that information. How long will the Information Society Commission continue to operate in its present form? Is there a role for it on a semi-permanent basis, for at least a period of ten years? Is there a strategy that will enable every household to be linked in an electronic network which would make Government services directly available? Has the Government, as distinct from the Information Society Commission, a view on the final objective on becoming an information society in the truest sense of the word?
The Information Society Commission is constantly evolving. It completed last year's agenda and this year's is very different. Ideas stem from every meeting and the commission will be around for some time. From the Government's perspective, the final objective must be that as many people as humanly possible should have access to the Internet, which is happening more quickly than people think. I am sure the Deputy has noticed that in shopping centres, people can access the Internet for ten minutes at the cost of £1. This facility is being used from morning to night. As I said recently, hopefully the cost of that will not increase because it came into existence as a facility which people could access easily. The Internet is being used in community centres, by sporting organisations and FÁS and ADM schemes. This should continue, and not only in a peripheral manner, full access should be provided.
As regards the final outcome for Government, we are in a process of e-commerce and e-Government which will take time to complete. Committees are working on this under SMI and trying to drive it forward so all the information we have will be available. Some Departments are better than others and some agencies are outstanding while others are not so good. We need to reach a position where practically all information is available. The long-term unemployed and the disadvantaged are using technology in FÁS centres, where practically everything can be accessed by pushing a button. I saw this in operation recently, and it is great to see the young and the old using the system. If someone had put down a bet with me a few years ago – when the old card system was in operation – that this would work, I would have lost. However, it is working.
The Information Society Commission and the Government are looking at how all households can be given access to the e-mail service. I also raised the issue of how to deal with the problem of junk mail to which Deputy Bruton recently referred. If we wish to be the leaders in this field, there are enormous opportunities to be grasped. I thank the technology companies for their participation and investment, whether in the IT 2000 programme in schools or whatever. This is continuing, and initiatives and processes which did not exist a few years ago, are now being looked at. The Information Society Commission is a very active group. It is anxious to continue with its work and we should enable it to do so.
Will the Taoiseach agree that reliability is essential if people are to be encouraged to use the service? Will he agree also that there is a problem with reliability in the phone system on which the Internet feeds, as witnessed during the recent collapse of that system in Dublin? Will he agree also, that people who use the service must not be ripped off? Is he aware that some people cannot log on to the Internet until the third or fourth attempt? These people end up paying for three or four calls rather than just one because of the failure to make an adequate connection initially. Will the Taoiseach agree that if we are to encourage Internet use, we must encourage reliability and transparency in regard to charges and independent regulation of charges so that users are not ripped off?
I agree that reliability in the public and private sector is a key issue. The Eircom issue was a serious matter. Inquiries have taken place and I hope the problem will not arise very often as it would create many difficulties. If the Deputy has a particular issue in mind, I will bring it to the attention of the appropriate authorities. Obviously if the service is costing customers more than it should, there is a fault somewhere in the system.
Deputy Perry has brought to my attention the fact that people are logging on three or four times before they actually establish a connection. These people end up paying for three or four calls rather than one. This can add up, particularly if more than one young person in a house is interested in using the Internet. Will the Taoiseach agree there is a serious risk of making the same mistake with the Internet as was made in regard to roads? We have encouraged people to own more road vehicles but we have not increased the capacity of the roads. Likewise, we may be encouraging more use of the Internet while the basic network is not adequate. Will the Taoiseach agree that, because of the fact that Eircom's future ownership and strategy is in doubt as a result of the withdrawal of its strategic partner, there is a question mark over the future development of this key element of our infrastructure? We could end up with a situation whereby Eircom is owned by some body with its headquarters in Palo Alto who will not be particularly concerned about the needs of Irish infrastructure. Therefore, we need to take steps to ensure there is an adequate strategic element inserted in any arrangement to guarantee there will be not be a detrimental effect on our infrastructure.
The Government are part owners of the infrastructure. I notice the company's share price rose today following rumours of new investors entering the market which, I hope, is a good sign.
Perhaps the Taoiseach might buy it back.
Not with the Tánaiste in office.
I hope global crossing and the necessary infrastructure and fibre optic cables will assist the company in its activities. It is obvious that if we provide the services we should also provide the infrastructure. That is being done and many resources have been invested in this area during the current year. The Tánaiste and I have already made announcements about such investments.
I note Deputy Perry's remarks and I will ensure that the position is investigated.
I will forward the relevant information to the Taoiseach's office.
I should also have informed Deputy Quinn that, at the beginning of autumn when changes to the Government's action plan were announced, it was announced that £7 million would be invested in information society projects during the remainder of the year. These funds are being used in many areas where Government action is required to try to ensure that our initiatives proceed as quickly as possible.