Involvement in the Knowledge Society Strategy group
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Mark Magennis has been invited by the Minister for Communications, Eamon Ryan, to work together with Irish technology industry leaders in a 'high level group' to develop a Knowledge Society Strategy for Ireland. This invitation came about as a result of having met with Sean Power, the former Minister of State for the Information Society, to talk about accessible digital television in particular and digital inclusion in general. Being involved in this group will help us make sure digital inclusion is at the centre of information society developments in Ireland. Looking at the way policy is developing in this area, not only in Ireland but all around the world, there is a danger that inclusion will take a back seat to technological and business issues. Even within the inclusion agenda, the focus often tends to be on broadband infrastructure with little attention paid to accessibility issues or digital literacy among disadvantaged groups.
In the mad rush to the 'smart economy', we have to make sure that older people and people with disabilities won’t become increasingly excluded from education, employment and new forms of social interaction due to inaccessible technologies or lack of skills and opportunities.