Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte has announced the appointment of Lord David Puttnam (pictured) as Digital Champion for Ireland. The introduction of the new roles comes as Ireland gets ready to assume presidency of the EU in Janurary.
Lord Puttnam made is mark as a producer in the film mindustry, in recent years has become a strong advocate for the integration of technology in education. Earlier this year he delivered a series of lectures via videolink to a college in Australia and has spoken at the Science Gallery and TEDx.
Commenting on his decision to accept the appointment, Lord Puttnam said: Ireland has been at the forefront in a number of areas of digital adoption…for example in teacher engagement with online resources. There is however considerable untapped potential in the digital area… thinking ‘digital’ in all aspects of policy, business, and daily citizen activity, presents huge opportunities, not just for efficiency and effectiveness, but to help unlock the extraordinary creative potential that exists in this, my adopted country.
Minister Rabbitte said: "I have asked David to be an ambassador for digital in Ireland. We all need to be challenged, to be imaginative about how digital technologies and digital media can improve our quality of life, our skills, our health, our education, our employability and our prosperity. Through his careers in cinema, broadcasting and teaching David has always been a genuine champion and early adopter of digital technologies. He is passionate about their ability to positively transform society, for example in education. I am encouraging him to provoke us to think differently about how we use telecommunications in the home, in the wider economy, in learning and in delivering public services to citizens of all ages."
The Minister also said it is his intention to publish a National Digital Strategy next year. The first phase of the Strategy will target specific segments of society, aiming to improve digital adoption and realise the economic and social benefits that such technologies can bring.
TechCentral Reporters
Subscribers 0
Fans 0
Followers 0
Followers