From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
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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 today 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."
The Digital Ireland Conference demonstrates Ireland’s ambition to continue to be a digital leader at the heart of European and global digital developments. It also demonstrates the government’s commitment to enhance the coherence of digital and regulatory structures, and to drive greater clarity, coherence and cooperation in digital in Ireland.
Alongside government and State agency representatives, attendees included senior leaders in tech, leading Irish digital companies, civil society, think-tanks and digital thought leaders.
Roberto Viola, Director General of the European Commission Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology delivered the keynote address.
The first of two panel discussions focussed on global digital developments and implementation of digital regulation, moderated by Professor Jane Suiter, School of Communications, DCU.
The second panel focussed on Artificial Intelligence, and the opportunities of the digital transformation. This panel was moderated by Dr Patricia Scanlon, Chair of AI Advisory Council and Ireland’s AI Ambassador.
Mary Snapp, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives Microsoft, shared her insights on the future of AI at a fireside chat led by Professor Stephen Kinsella from the University of Limerick
Minister of State for eGovernment, Connectivity and Circular Economy Ossian Smyth led a virtual fireside chat with Ukrainian Digital Minister Yegor Dubynskyi on Ukraine’s eGovernment and cybersecurity journey.
The D9+ group is an informal alliance of Digital Ministers from the digital frontrunner EU Member States. It was established in 2016 bringing together the top-ranked European countries in the European Commission annual Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), plus a small number of other countries who share similar ambitions for the Digital Single Market.
The Ministers generally meet twice a year to build on their collective strengths in advanced digital policy and to confront the challenges associated with and to influence EU digital policy.
Ireland’s chairmanship represents an opportunity, as stated in Harnessing Digital: The Digital Ireland Framework, to be “a strong voice in Europe for a balanced approach to digital regulation in areas such as data, digital markets, digital services, cyber security and AI, bringing Ireland’s expertise and experience.”
The European Commission has been monitoring Member States’ digital progress through the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) reports since 2014. As of 2023, and in line with the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030, DESI is now integrated into the State of the Digital Decade report and used to monitor progress towards the 2030 digital targets across the four areas of infrastructure, skills, government, and business.
For more information go to: The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) - Shaping Europe’s digital future.
The first State of the Digital Decade was published on 29 September 2023 and takes stock of the EU’s progress towards a successful digital transformation as set out in the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030. The report highlights the need to accelerate and deepen collective efforts, including through policy measures and investment in digital technologies, skills and infrastructure.
For more information go to: 2023 Report on the state of the Digital Decade - Shaping Europe’s digital future.