ICT urges e-business ministry

ICT Ireland, the IBEC body representing the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector has urged the Taioseach to appoint an e-Minister to the new cabinet.

ICT wants the proposed ministry to provide co-ordination and momentum in the development of Ireland's e-business agenda.

Among the key challenges ICT Ireland feels should be addressed are accelerating e-business take-up, delivering the required investment in broadband telecommunications and sustaining Ireland's international reputation as a leading digital society and knowledge

At present, responsibility for e-business and its enabling infrastructure is dispersed across a number of Government departments and agencies.

There are committed senior officials in the various Governments departments, but there is no single department who leads of the overall process.

Kevin Dillon, Chairman of ICT Ireland said: "The role of such a minister will have one single focus - to lead and promote the overall development of e-business, putting overall cross-sectoral programmes in place."

The ICT industry directly employs 100,000 people and accounts for more than a quarter of Ireland's exports.