Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Dara Calleary joined tech leaders, regulators and policymakers in Dublin Castle for their department’s Digital Ireland Conference.
The Conference underlines Ireland’s position as a digital leader at the heart of European and global digital developments and demonstrates the government’s commitment to drive greater clarity, coherence and cooperation in digital in Ireland.
Minister Burke set out his ambition on how technology will improve our daily lives, in his opening address, saying:
“The opportunities that AI presents are unlike previous technological change, in terms of their potentially transformative impact for our collective good. There are huge opportunities for productivity gains for SMEs and larger companies alike.
“Here in Ireland, through our National AI Strategy, we are putting the building blocks in place to make sure that AI is used for good, building public trust; leveraging AI in business and public service; and ensuring we have the enablers and infrastructure in place, including in terms of skills, innovation, open data and cybersecurity.
“As a small, open economy, Ireland has been hugely successful in attracting eight of the global top 10 information technology companies to establish a significant presence here. We are the second largest exporter of computer and IT services in the world. We also have a dynamic domestic innovation ecosystem, with the third highest number of unicorns per capita in the EU.
“Ireland is at the heart of the digital transformation, both as a home to a vibrant digital economy, and through our key role in the EU, in particular in the digital regulatory space.”
Addressing the conference, Minister Calleary set the agenda for the D9+ meeting taking place on Friday, saying:
“Tomorrow’s meeting of Digital Ministers marks the high point of Ireland’s six-month chairmanship of the D9+ which is running from January to July of this year.
“The D9+ is a forum for visionary debate on future digitalisation issues, on practical exchanges of best practice on digital policy matters, and for dialogue with the business sector. Our meeting is timely as we look ahead to a new Commission, new Parliament, and an updated strategic agenda for our Union.
“We in the D9+ have an important role in influencing the future direction of our Union, as ambitious advocates for a Digital Single Market based on openness and fair competition, and a digital transformation grounded in fundamental rights, while supporting innovation and SMEs.”
Comments