Sir, – I read Daragh Mc Dowell’s arrogant response (February 22nd) to Dr Brenda O’Hanrahan’s letter (February 20th) with equal dismay. His assumption that most of the population of Ireland have access to a PC; internet access; the educational skills and competencies to use same and literacy levels to understand the processes, is very interesting.
Dr O’Hanrahan mentioned the old, the disabled and the less well- off as being some of the groups that could be adversely affected by the increasing use of online services by both Government and business interests.
Mr Mc Dowell is obviously unaware of the needs of these sections of society. As a member of the elite professional class he appears to have access to the most modern of computer technology and Internet connectivity.
He suggests that ordinary people could attend their public libraries to access the Internet on PCs, however he fails to acknowledge that a lot of people would be unable to gain access to a library, particularly in rural areas, or have the literacy or skills to avail of this facility.
I agree with Dr O’Hanrahan’s observation that if a properly conducted national survey were to be carried out it would reveal a silent majority adversely affected by this development. – Yours, etc,