European

Telework Ireland Press Release - 30/4/98

Minister for Science Technology and Commerce establishes National Advisory Council on Teleworking

Noel Treacy TD, Minister for Science Technology and Commerce in Ireland, has announced the establishment of the National Advisory Council on Teleworking.

The terms of reference of the Council - which was announced by Minister Treacy in Dublin on 30 April 1998, are "To advise the Minister for Science Technology and Commerce on the development of Teleworking Employment opportunities in Ireland and to recommend attainable actions, which will contribute to the realisation of those opportunities".

Telework Ireland - the professional Association of Teleworkers in Ireland - warmly welcomes this Ministerial measure. Riona Carroll, Executive Officer of Telework Ireland and member of the newly formed Council, comments "Since the inception of Telework Ireland in 1993 the association has worked for the advancement and mainstreaming of Teleworking into National policy. Today's announcement represents the first important step in formalising this national Teleworking strategy.

The council membership has an excellent balance of practical, academic, public sector and private interests in this complex area. The complimentary of skill will serve as an effective and focussed mix for the Council's work over the next year.

"The members of Telework Ireland are obviously delighted by this important development and by the strong representation of TWI on the National Council. We welcome Minister Treacy's innovation for action at a national level. We are also pleased that the Irish government has taken the lead in providing a structure within which the potential of teleworking can be meaningfully investigated at a national level. We at Telework Ireland know, from experience, the power of telework to bring economic and educational opportunities to all corners of the country - rural and urban. Telework Ireland members' experience clearly demonstrates this reality - members work from Donegal for Dublin based companies, telecottages in disadvantaged rural areas provide employment and services to companies and organisations throughout Ireland and the US, small businesses and micro-enterprises prosper on the remote, very beautiful and uncongested, west coast of the country. Teleworking is a real tool for economic equality and opportunity, which is not restricted by geography, accessibility or other disadvantage.

We, as an organisation, look forward eagerly to contributing towards the work of the council and recognise this initiative as a real step forward for teleworking at a national level."

Telework Ireland views Minister Treacy's announcement as another milestone in its life. Fundamental to this important announcement has been the work and support which has gone on over the last number of years on a voluntary basis and more recently the excellent financial support from ADM and CPA under the NI Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. Telework Ireland wishes to acknowledge that without the support of ADM/CPA today's announcement would be much further down the agenda

Contact:
Riona Carroll, Executive Officer,
Freefone: 1800 421 426 (Sponsored by Telecom Eireann)
'Phone: +353 (0)47 72069
Fax: +353 (0)47 72070
E-mail: riona@telework.ie

Home Contents ETW 95 ETW 96
ETW 97 Search Contact