At the knowledge society strategy launch
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Today Mark Magennis of CFIT attended the launch of the Government report "Technology Actions to Support the Smart Economy", which outlines Ireland's knowledge society strategy - heralded as our way out of the current economic mess. This is very important for social inclusion because it will play a major role in determining whether people with disabilities will be able to benefit from future digital technologies or whether the digital divide between them and the rest of society will get even wider. From this point of view the report is very disappointing.
The actions outlined in it focus almost exclusively on infrastructure projects in digital and green technologies with no regard for other social implications. However, Eamon Ryan, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, admitted that this was in order to meet the immediate need to implement ready solutions that can create jobs and economic opportunities. Issues around digital inclusion, accessible e-government, digital literacy and universal access, although not central to this report, are recognised and will be an important part of the complete strategy, to be developed during the coming year.
Watch this space.