European Telework Development

European Telework Online Ireland

The European Telework Development Initiative in Ireland is coordinated by the Communication Workers Union, which has about 20,000 members in the telecommunications and distribution industries. The union operates a "virtual branch" for teleworkers and a telework news archive.

Actions to date by ETD in Ireland include:

• Operation of a telework enquiries helpline sponsored by Telecom Eireann (1800 22 50 70)
• Publication of guidelines on implementing teleworking aimed at human resource managers in conjunction with the Irish employers association IBEC.
• Publication of a general introductory leaflet on teleworking co-sponsored by the CWU (text available on the CWU web site in the telework section).
• Operation of a news monitoring service for items on teleworking, co-sponsored by Telecom Eireann
• Coordinating and contributing responses on teleworking issues contained in the EU green paper Partnership for a New Organisation of Work.
• Creating a set of four adult education seminars for would-be teleworkers, sponsored by West Cork LEADER Cooperative which have been delivered in five West Cork towns and are being taken up by other LEADER groups.
• Supplying information to journalists for items on teleworking including a special on Pat Kenny Today (RTE Radio 1) for European Telework Week in November 1997.
• Organising a conference "Teleworking: Sweatshop or Social Progress", co-sponsored by the European Foundation, the Information Society Commission, Telecom Eireann and PVL Communications in Dublin, 5 Nov 1997 as part of European Teleworking Week
• Distributing information packs including the 350 page Teleworking Handbook to enquirers
• Lobbying civil service and politicians on issues such as planning permission for home offices, cost of access to the Internet and collection of official statistics on teleworkers.
• Cooperating with the government's Information Society Commission to inform their work in relation to teleworking.

ETD Irish telework enquiry point

Imogen Bertin
Reagrove
Minane Bridge
Co. Cork
Ireland
Tel: +353 21 887403
Fax: +353 21 887402
Mobile: +353 88 655 261

ETD coordinator for Ireland

Imogen Bertin can be contacted at the address given above. ETD are interested in learning about existing and planned teleworking initiatives in Ireland and in gathering opinions and questions from executives and policy makers.

Other general ETD information

• For general information about ETD
• Information in English about telework, electronic commerce and networking by teleworking enterprises
• To ask and answer questions (in English)
• Register an interest in ETD
• Find out how to participate