Minister Niamh Smyth’s Call to Action on New Charter for Digital Inclusion
Last week, the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth, announced a major step forward in Ireland’s journey toward a more inclusive digital society with a call to action on the forthcoming Charter for Digital Inclusion.
The Charter is a key deliverable under ‘Digital for Good: Ireland’s Digital Inclusion Roadmap’. The roadmap was published in August 2023 and reflects the commitment in Harnessing Digital to ensure the Government better serves people who are not able to engage online and promotes the United Nations principle of “Leave No One Behind”.
A Charter for Digital Inclusion aims to support public and private organisations to join efforts in ensuring equitable access to the use of digital technologies, services, and associated opportunities for everyone. The Charter will also outline a set of core commitments focused on accessibility, equity, affordability, and the development of digital skills. It will serve as a framework for collaboration between the public sector, large enterprises, SMEs, community organisations and citizens.
In the Minister’s call to action, she said the following:
“This Charter is a call to action for businesses and organisations across Ireland to embed digital inclusion into their everyday operations. By signing the Charter, organisations commit to impactful actions to ensure that digital opportunities are accessible to all. By working together—big and small businesses, public bodies and communities—we can create a supportive ecosystem that benefits everyone. When large companies help SMEs go digital, the entire economy gains.”
- Further details of Minister’s announcement can be found here.
- Further details of the Digital Inclusion Roadmap can be found here.
For questions, please contact SFA Public Affairs Lead, Jonathan McDade - Tel: 01 605 1688 or Email: jonathan.mcdade@sfa.ie.
