Although the Republic is the world's biggest exporter of software, the deeper penetration of the global information technology revolution into society at large and indigenous businesses is still weak, according to the Fine Gael environment spokesman Mr Ivan Yates. Mr Yates, is the author of Fine Gael's new policy initiative on information technology.

Speaking at a press conference in Dublin yesterday to announce the policy initiative, Mr Yates said there are still critical deficiencies in some aspects of public policy regarding information technology.

The party's policy initiative contains 52 separate proposals, including a $1 billion national investment programme for rolling out high-speed Internet capacity, a tax credit and social welfare subsidy to promote the use of home computers, and free Internet access in libraries, government and local authority buildings.

Fine Gael also proposes a package of tax and equity incentives to encourage small enterprises to conduct business online, and the appointment of a full minister.

"Instead of a situation where you have a nine to five, Monday to Friday services, you can have 24 hours a day, seven days a week e-government. It would free up civil servants from doing repetitive mundane tasks, and provide a better delivery of services, with the right type of investment," Mr Yates said.

The party's policy document also features proposals to tackle issues of IT training in schools and on privacy.

When asked why he supported the recently signed Electronic Commerce Act, Mr Yates replied that the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms Mary O'Rourke, had agreed with his proposed amendments to the legislation but told him that such amendments would have been outside her Department's brief.