Minister's Call to Action on New Charter for Digital Inclusion

Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth, has 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”, published in August 2023, which forms part of the Government’s National Digital Strategy. It aims to ensure that no one is left behind as digital technologies become increasingly central to how we live, work, and connect.

The Minister said: "Digital technology is transforming every aspect of our lives—but not everyone has equal access to its benefits.

“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.”

The Charter will 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.

Minister Smyth emphasised the importance of partnership, particularly the role of larger businesses in supporting SMEs to adopt and benefit from digital technologies:

“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.”

The Minister highlighted successful examples already underway, including:

Google’s 500 AI scholarships for local communities in 2024, aimed at boosting digital and AI skills.

Enterprise Nation and Vodafone Ireland’s ‘Tech Hub’ initiative, which helps Irish SMEs understand and adopt AI tools.

Minister Smyth added: "These are the kinds of impactful actions we want to encourage through the Charter.”

To support the initiative, the Department will launch a dedicated webpage outlining the Charter’s principles and showcasing real-world examples of digital inclusion in action. This platform will serve as a hub for inspiration, collaboration, and progress tracking.

“This isn’t just a government initiative—today is a call to action. I invite businesses, public bodies, and community leaders to sign the Charter and join us in building a more digitally inclusive Ireland.”