Part of the problem with the 'Information Society' agenda is that it means different things to different people - in fact, I'm sure that if one was to ask each of you individually here this morning, in all probability we'd get a multitude of definitions on what it is and, indeed, how we might possibly get there. So I think it is important to establish a common level of understanding of what we actually mean.
The role and function of Government is primarily to enhance society, to protect society and to ensure that citizens have the opportunity to participate fully in society. Information means opportunity and empowerment, and coupled with the right use of technology it offers a powerful key to improve our circumstances. However, empowerment comes from access to information. This is particularly true today as we operate in an Information Society.
This afternoon is an opportunity to meet with others who share an interest in the transformation process which is encapsulated by the term 'e-Government' and it is an opportunity to establish a new network connecting people from two jurisdictions whose citizens interact at a business, social and family level and for whom as public servants, you discharge an obligation to serve across a whole range of activities.
As always, the Technology Forecast provides an authoritative overview of the major areas of IT and forecasts significant developments in these areas over the next number of years. It highlights the advances that are taking place in ICTs in response to the increasing demands of users. And these advances are always very welcome.
My responsibilities for the Information Society agenda cover a wide range of policy areas, which bring me more and more into contact with people who frequently seem to be speaking a different language but I am thankful that the policies, which were published in the spring, were very carefully crafted in English in New Connections.
The Minister for the Information Society, Mary Hanafin T.D. today published the first progress report on New Connections, the Governments Action Plan for developing an Information Society.
My own interest in your work arises from my role as Minister with responsibility for the Information Society. Working in collaboration with other Departments and their agencies, my role is to co-ordinate the seven strands of the Information Society agenda being driven centrally by the Department of the Taoiseach.
As most of you probably already know the venue for this conference, Dublin Castle, has played a very important part in Irish history and was once the seat of political power in Ireland. That was a time when we based our economic development almost exclusively on our agricultural industry. Today a myriad of industries contribute to our GNP. But there is one vital aspect common to all of them - they each operate in a global and knowledge based economy.
It is a great pleasure to be here this afternoon to launch the www.idaal.com website and I would like to thank Brother Lennon for inviting me. Having listened to Pasty relay to us how the idaal consortium came about, I was struck by how the simplest of ideas are the hardest to find and the best to have. It makes perfect sense to have one place where everyone, from Tory Island to downtown Killarney, can access up-to-date information in the field of intellectual disabilities, mental health and related subjects. And more so that the organisations involved would form the first ever consortium of its type to facilitate it.
One of our goals to ensure that Ireland gets the maximum benefit from Information and Communication Technologies is by delivering all public services, that are capable of electronic delivery, available on-line. It is not enough though to have these services made available, we need to ensure that every citizen is in a position to get on-line and use the Net.