THE development of the information society must lead to more jobs, the European Commissioner for Social Affairs, Mr Padraig Flynn, has told a conference in Dublin. He also said the European Union must ensure all citizens have access to new technology at a reasonable cost.
A high level expert group he had set up "foresees the emergence of new, knowledge rich forms of employment which could create highly satisfying jobs for many Europeans". Such jobs were not only socially desirable but would give Europe a competitive advantage.
The conference, called "Preparing Ireland for the Information Age", was organised by the ICTU.
Mr Flynn said that unions must become more sensitive to changes brought about by economic and technological change. He singled out the "feminisation of the labour market", as something to which the unions had not adequately adjusted. They also had to adjust their services to reach part time workers, teleworkers and others in atypical employments.
The Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, said the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Richard Bruton, had established a steering committee to develop a national information society strategy and action plan. The committee would help ensure public policy took account of social as well as economic and technological issues.
It consisted of a high calibre group from a range of back grounds relevant to the information society.
However, the composition of the steering committee was criticised from the conference floor. Mr Brian Trench of the National Union of Journalists said Mr Peter Cassells, ICTU general secretary, was the only member of the committee who was not a representative of either the Government or the business community.
Of the 20 members, there were only two women. These imbalances had to be addressed.
Mr Flynn, responding, said he had heard the message very clearly" and it would be addressed.
. About 800 schools in the Republic have access to the Internet but most could not make full use of the service because of the high cost of phone calls, the conference was told. In Denmark, schools have free access to the telecommunications system.