Address by Mr. Noel Treacy T.D., Minister for Science, Technology & Commerce, at the Presentation of European Computer Driving Licences At the Dobbyn & Coffey’s, Athenry On Wednesday 10th January, 2001 at 8.30pm

Thank you for inviting me, to present European Computer Driving to all of the participants, who have successfully completed this Course. I receive many invitations as a Government Minister and as you will appreciate, it is not possible to accept all of them. However, I always try to attend Events such as this, because I believe that it is important to pay tribute to the hard work and achievements of so many People.

Before speaking on the importance of the ECDL, I would like to complement Athenry Development Company, under the direction of Mr. Pat Foley, for arranging this "Information Night."

You have certainly arranged an impressive range of Speakers and I was delighted to be able to hear their Presentations. There is certainly a lot happening in our Community and I wish everyone well in their endeavours. I also wish to confirm the recent decision by my Government Colleague, Mr. Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for the Environment and Local Government to sanction the commencement of the Construction of the Extension and Upgrading of the Athenry Water Supply Scheme. This £7.5 million Scheme will allow our Town to develop its full potential in the years ahead. I also heartily congratulate the Coffey Brothers, on their being selected for this large contract.

The primary Objective of the ECDL is to promote and encourage Computer Literacy for all. It ensures that Computer Users understand Best Practices and the many Advantages of using a PC.

It also helps to increase the Productivity of Employees, who need to use Computers in their Work and enables better Returns from Investments, in Information Technology.

Lastly and most importantly, it provides a Basic Qualification that allows all People, regardless of their background, to be part of the modern Information Society.

Today, Computer Skills are increasingly important to People in all walks of Life. Individuals need to develop a Personal Portfolio of Skills, that are continuously upgraded to ensure their Employability over a Working Lifetime, in which the concept of a Job for Life, in some areas of Activity or Business, no longer holds, unlike the past. The ECDL Qualification allows Workers and Citizens to formally show, with their Certification, that they have a good basic Knowledge and Competence in Personal Computer Use.

In practice the ECDL Certificate, indicates that the Holder has passed one Theoretical Test, that assesses his or her Knowledge of the basic concepts of Information Technology (IT), and six Practice-based Tests. These assess the Holder’s basic Competence in using a Personal Computer and Working with Common Computer Applications, such as Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Databases and the use of Graphics.

An Individual Skill Card is issued, for each of the seven Exams and the European Computer Driving Licence is Awarded, on the successful completion of all Seven Modules. The ECDL is also recognised, as an Internationally accepted Certificate. I would like to compliment Nortel for their foresight in sponsoring this Programme.

The pleasant duty that calls me here today, is to present the Certificates to all of those, who have completed the full Syllabus of the ECDL. This Event is in recognition by us, of the hard work of all concerned and I would like to heartily congratulate all of you, on your Personal achievements. I have no doubt that your experience within this programme, will benefit you throughout your Working and Personal Lives.

I would like also to pay tribute to Mr. Hany Marzouk of Eagle Promotions for compiling a New Local Telephone Directory, for the Athenry Area. The launch of this Directory is one of many initiatives by them, in the support and development of Local Communities and fulfilling the needs of the Local Economy.

This Directory provides details of Professional, Retail, Manufacturing, and Trade Organisations and all Services, including Government Services, Health, Transport and Tourism Services, operating in our Area.

I am confident that this new Directory will:-

• Forge stronger links, between all Businesses, operating in our Town and create a greater Awareness of the Multi-Sectoral Services, available here locally and throughout the Country.
• Will serve as an invaluable source of Information for People, utilising these Services, on a daily basis; and
• Will provide a Business Database, that will serve as a building block, for future Business Databases, in Athenry and the surrounding Area.

It now gives me great pleasure to invite you all to receive your Certificates and once again I heartily congratulate all of you.