Speech by Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Google Insight scholarship presentation

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Good afternoon everyone. I am delighted to be here today to mark this significant occasion with you - the inaugural group of Insight scholars. I would like to thank Megan and the teams at both DCU and Google for the invitation.

Tá an-áthas orm a bheith anseo inniu libh chun an lá speisialta seo a chomóradh.

Today marks an important recognition of your hard work and commitment. Your success in being awarded an Insight scholarship, is a testament to your dedication and tenacity, attributes which will stand to you as you work towards achieving your ambitions.

You should each and every one of you take pride in all you have accomplished so far.

Today also marks a special day for Insight and DCU, and for Google, in welcoming all of you here as the very first cohort of Insight Scholars.

It is great to see so many of you, and from across twelve universities around the country, benefiting from this programme.

This scholarship, of course, is made possible through the support of Google.Org. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank Google for their significant contribution, and for their ongoing investment and commitment to Ireland, including their long-standing support and dedication to the communities here that they are a part of, which is well-known and appreciated.

I have been a passionate advocate for education and the opportunity it brings, all of my professional life.

I have described it as ‘the great enabler’ and I believe that the tremendous economic and social progress we have enjoyed as a nation has been based on the work of generations of educators and the investment of successive governments.

We’re being hosted today by Google – is there any better evidence of the dividend arising from that investment in, and focus on education than the presence of this company here in heart of our city? And the scale of that presence?

To see Google putting the level of focus and investment into this initiative that it is, giving young people the opportunity to fully develop their skills and reach their full potential, is, in a way, completing a virtuous circle.

I also think it is a powerful signal to others in the sector. To all of the team involved, I want to commend you for what you’re doing and I want to thank you for the impact it will have on the each of these impressive young people.

It is fitting that we are celebrating here today in Bolands Mills, a hub for Google’s AI innovation, as I know many of you have chosen programmes in AI and digital safety.

Having spent the last few days at the AI Summit in Paris, I can say without fear of contradiction that these skills will only become more important, and more relevant, and I have no doubt you will find yourselves in demand once you’ve graduated.

I know you will be supported throughout your programmes not only financially, but also through access to a mentorship programme.

I’m sure you will gain valuable insights from your mentors, and these relationships will stand to you throughout your future career.

We are living through a digital revolution and, of course, AI in particular, is having a transformative impact across all our lives. Indeed, the last few weeks have demonstrated how rapid some of these developments can be.

As I’ve mentioned, I participated in the AI Action Summit, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this week, where political and business leaders from around the world gathered to discuss how we can harness the innovation of AI to bring about positive change.

Of course, while everyone is very excited about the opportunities AI brings, we’re also aware there are risks and challenges as well. It will be important to make sure that the development and use of AI is ethical and responsible.

For our part, the government is determined to step up our efforts to fully realise the benefits of the digital and AI revolution.

We are committed to continuing to be a digital leader at the heart of Europe, and globally.

We have a strong focus on Digital Skills, in addition to digital infrastructure, and using digital technologies to improve our public services, and to help our companies to be more productive.

So that everyone in our society can benefit from digital and AI technologies, we need to ensure sufficient levels of digital literacy and skills.

This includes basic digital skills, such as carrying out everyday tasks like online banking, as well as those working at the cutting edge of the AI revolution.

That’s why we are working to embed AI and digital skills across our education and skills infrastructure.

Ireland has a strong – and well tested – track record on talent, and I am greatly encouraged looking at all of you today that this talent pipeline will stay strong, well into the future.

We will continue to do our part to drive the digitalisation of our economy and society. We have a strong AI innovation ecosystem and are committed to building our leadership in the development and use of ethical AI. Your skills will be invaluable in ensuring that Ireland is ready for our digital future.

Congratulations to each and every one of you on becoming the first Insight scholars.

Take pride in your achievements thus far, and I wish you all every success with your programmes and beyond.

And finally, a sincere thank you again to the team here in Google for your innovation and support for this excellent initiative.

Gabhaim buíochas libh arís as an deis seo labhairt libh anseo inniu. Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh sult as an gcuid eile den lá.

Thank you.