Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Moynihan for his kind words about the officials in my Department and the work that they are endeavouring to carry out, particularly those in Israel, Ramallah and in the region, and indeed our consular services here in Dublin. I am grateful for all they do and appreciate the Deputy's words. I join him in expressing our sincere sympathies and condolences to those affected by the most horrific murder and killings outside a synagogue in Manchester. It is a horrific situation and we all deplore and condemn it. We think of all those affected.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, as we see more and more things move online, that we do not lose sight of the fact that we need to bring everybody with us. It can be quite a scary and frightening time of transition for people if they do not feel they have the skills to transition, or indeed the option, if they do not wish to transition, to continue to access their services in a way that is convenient and works for them.

We are planning to update the national digital and AI strategy. A new, refreshed version of that is due by the end of the year. I will ask the relevant Ministers, Deputies Burke and Niamh Smyth, to take on board the Deputy's suggestions about that and the good work that has been done by Age Action Ireland, which the Deputy referred to as well. I know this is an issue that faces so many of our citizens. It is vital that, as we shape Ireland's digital future, we do not leave people behind. The Government is encouraging a digital first, but not a digital only, approach from businesses, as some citizens like to have different options. It is important even in my Department, with our passport service. So much is now done online but there will always be some people, certainly for the time ahead, who may not wish to do it online. That is okay too and we need to support them in that.

Having said that, there is growing consumer demand for digital accessibility. Companies and public services are responding to those customer and citizen demands. Digitalisation has played a major role, as the Deputy says, in driving efficiencies for business, improving productivity, for marketing, selling online, and accessing new markets, but equally important is customer service and meeting customer and citizen expectations. There is a balance. Getting that feedback and listening to our citizens, and from a company's point of view, listening to its customers, is important.

The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has introduced a new charter focused on AI and digital literacy and SME digitalisation. This represents the implementation of a key measure under what we call the digital for good initiative, which emphasises the importance of access and affordability and ensuring that all citizens can have equitable access to digital technologies and the opportunities they bring.

When we talk about digital exclusion, what we are hearing more and more from people is that it is not about a lack of devices or a lack of access to the Internet, though that can sometimes be the issue, but that it is about lacking the skills to use them effectively. The charter for digital inclusion commits to a number of actions to try to make progress there. I suggest that we take this and the suggestions from Deputy Moynihan forward in our new, refreshed national digital and AI strategy.

I will ask the Minister, Deputy Burke, and the Minister of State, Deputy Niamh Smyth, to engage with the Deputy on the framing of that.

See this speech in context