Address by Mr. Noel Treacy T.D., Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce at the Launch of Telework Ireland’s Teleworking Manuals and the Relaunch of their Website in Buswell’s Hotel on 25th May, 2000 at 12 p.m.

I am delighted to be here today to officially launch Telework Ireland’s Teleworking Manuals which will be an invaluable reference source and working tool for employers, aspiring entrepreneurs and employees interested in adopting teleworking, or e-working as it is increasingly known, as a method of working. I am also pleased to relaunch Telework Ireland’s updated and improved Website. This function here today is, of course, the culmination of a lot of hard work and effort by Telework Ireland, for which I sincerely thank them.

Telework Ireland has, in the years since its foundation in 1993 as the Irish Telecottages Association, represented and promoted the concept of Teleworking and supported Teleworkers in Ireland. Current voluntary membership includes organizations from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland along with individual members from throughout the whole island of Ireland, the UK and even from as far away as North America and Russia. Telework Ireland is a dynamic and enthusiastic organisation that has been to the fore in encouraging the uptake of teleworking in all its forms. It continually strives, through its ever-increasing range of services and activities, to respond to the needs of the different groups e.g. employers, entrepreneurs and employees, with an interest in teleworking.

When I recognized the potential employment growth that Teleworking could provide, I established the National Advisory Council on Teleworking to advise me on the development of Teleworking employment opportunities here in Ireland.

This I did following discussions that I had with representatives from Telework Ireland. Their experience and expertise in the whole area of Teleworking ensured their inclusion on the Council, a position that they held with great enthusiasm. The Council presented its excellent Report "New Ways of Living and Working - Teleworking in Ireland" to me in June, last.

One of the main recommendations of the Council was the establishment of a Telework Action Forum and I established such a Forum in November, last. The purpose of this Forum, which has since been re-named the eWork Action Forum, is to provide a focal point for the ongoing development of an environment, which will stimulate teleworking employment opportunities and ensure that this method of working achieves its full potential in contributing to economic growth and an improved quality of life.

Once again Telework Ireland was not found wanting when requested to become a member of the Forum. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Telework Ireland for their great contribution to the Council and their continued participation in the eWork Action Forum.

The new Forum includes representatives from business, unions, academia, Government, individual Teleworkers and other regional interests. Telework Ireland is well represented by Ms. Riona Carroll, your Executive Director, and M/s. Joe McCormack, Gerry McGovern and Liam Breslin. There is also representation from the corporate members of Telework Ireland - Mr. Kevin Sweeney from Agilent Technologies, Mr. Michael Gaffney from Nortel and Mr. John Brady from Enterprise Ireland.

The publication of Telework Ireland’s Manuals at this time is particularly welcome.

Modern information and communications technologies have opened up new methods of work organization while at the same time the success of our economy has resulted in skills and infrastructural bottlenecks. Teleworking, or e-working, has the potential to alleviate these difficulties by increasing the available pool of skilled labour and reducing traffic congestion in our cities. It is also a powerful tool for improving business competitiveness as it increases productivity, lowers costs and offers greater success in both attracting and retaining labour

.These two teleworking manuals, one addressed to employers or managers, and the other to employees and aspiring entrepreneurs interested in setting up a Telework based business, are the first comprehensive manuals developed to meet the needs within the Irish market. I would like to complement Telework Ireland on the quality of their production. The User-Friendly layout ensures that information can be accessed easily.

The inclusion of case studies brings the Telework concept to life as it draws on the experience of Teleworkers and companies who have implemented teleworking. The flexible format of the manuals will facilitate updating which is an important consideration given the pace of change in the e-commerce and e-work areas. The Manuals meet information needs on a cross-border basis, and provide a comprehensive listing of key contacts and resources.

As a reflection of the ever expanding and developing requirements and expectations of the marketplace, they are available in hard copy and also on CD Rom. They address the needs of the various groups which sometimes have common, but also individual, concerns and interests, for example managers implementing a Teleworking policy on the one hand and Telecommuters and Telework based business start-ups on the other.

The Manuals offer specific and practical guidance in successfully implementing Teleworking policy, ideas generation for business development and surviving and prospering in a Teleworking environment. They echo the very important aids and resources which Telework Ireland has developed over recent years, in areas such as the training of a panel of mentors to assist in business start-ups and the development of a Consultancy panel to facilitate the implementation of teleworking within organizations.

I would also like to warmly welcome the third major stage of development of the Telework Ireland Website: www.telework.ie that is being launched today also.

This investment in the Website recognizes its importance as a resource to members and also the public, on both a national and global basis. I understand that the Website is the most visited national Telework Website in the EU.

Its public area provides a database of members’ skills and includes a wider range of Telework related information and resources. It provides links to many important websites including Enterprise Ireland’s newly developed Website, UK associates, the TCA, and the Canada Teleworking Association.

There is a newly developed private members area that provides information on commercial opportunities and on training and upskilling opportunities In addition, technical advice and hints are provided together with a chat room for teleworking associates and colleagues

. Further strengthening of the network is ensured by the operation of a members discount scheme. This scheme encourages membership and offers discounts in a wide range of areas such as health insurance, home-office furniture and business publications.

There is also a facility available to members to allow them the opportunity of developing their own Website as an extension of Telework Ireland site, which enhances the value of their own site and, indeed, that of Telework Ireland. I think that the quality and sophistication of this Website is most impressive and I sincerely congratulate Telework Ireland on its development.

This Government is acutely aware of the benefits which teleworking or e-working can bring to the economy through increased business competitiveness, through lower costs and increased productivity, alleviation of skills shortages, lessening of traffic congestion in our major towns and cities, and the enhancement of rural development and improved life styles.

The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness contains a commitment to develop Ireland as a "Telework friendly" location. I alluded earlier to the e-Work Action Forum.

I see the work of the Forum as essential to the development of an environment in which e-working can flourish. It is also the mechanism for evaluating progress in implementing the recommendations in the Report of the National Advisory Council on Teleworking.

One of the key recommendations in the Report related to the endorsement by the social partners of the Code of Practice on Teleworking which formed an integral part of that Report. The recognition of the need to have a clear framework, led to the inclusion in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness of a commitment regarding the endorsement of the Code of Practice by the Social Partners. Our Government, IBEC and ICTU have lost no time in endorsing this Code of Practice, which was launched on 10th May, last. The Code is known as the "Code of Practice on e-Working in Ireland".

This Code provides valuable information and will be of great assistance in identifying and clarifying key issues that need to be addressed in introducing an e-working policy in firms and organisations. If the potential of e-work is to be exploited fully, for the mutual benefit of workers and employers, it is vital that clear ground rules are established which inspire confidence in both parties.

It is essential that our Government shows itself as a leader in the implementation of e-working and there is a commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to introduce teleworking options into mainstream public service employment and, additionally, all publicly funded organizations will develop a teleworking policy for implementation by 2002.

Pilot projects are likely to be implemented in a number of Departments in the near future.

In a personal way I too will be playing my part. Arrangements are currently being made to allow me to establish a home office in Galway which will allow me to experiment with connectivity to our Departmental sites here in Dublin. If the Government cannot be seen to take the initiative in this area then it has lost the argument

.In conclusion, I would like to congratulate you once more on the production of such significant and informative Manuals which I know will prove an invaluable resource to anyone, be they managers, business owners, entrepreneurs or employees, interested in exploring a Telework option.