Remarks by the Tánaiste at the Summit of the Future Interactive Dialogue: Towards a Common Digital Future

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I am delighted to contribute to this important discussion on strengthening inclusive innovation and cooperation to bridge digital divides.

Yesterday we adopted the Pact for the Future – the most wide-ranging international agreement in many years. This Pact, and its annexes – the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations – amount to a step-change in how the multilateral system responds to the opportunities and challenges facing our global community.

Now that the Pact has been agreed, our task as world leaders is to implement it – here at the UN and across our regions and countries, as we build a more sustainable, just and peaceful global order.

Ireland strongly welcomes the Global Digital Compact. Our focus now should be on working together for its implementation. We need to unite the international community in support of the multi-stakeholder action required to overcome digital divides.

New and emerging technologies, in changing the way we live and work, can pose challenges. AI, for example, has the potential to amplify disinformation and to erode hard won freedoms.

However, it also creates a wealth of opportunity. In order to realise the positive potential of emerging technologies, we must take a human rights-based approach, and ensure compliance with international law.

Ireland has experienced first-hand the transformative power of technological advancement and the emergence of our modern, digital world.

We now strive to ensure that a digital approach informs our work with partner countries towards their development goals. Through diverse programmes, Ireland is partnering to reduce the digital divide.

In Malawi, we are supporting projects to address the gender digital divide, through the Malawi Girls Can Code Too initiative.

In Vietnam, AI is being used to detect changes in mangrove cover, in order to protect and expand forests affected by climate change.

And the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa, fosters connections between the South African and Irish tech ecosystems.

A common digital future also requires us to close digital divides within countries. We must include a diverse range of voices in this debate around our common digital future. It is vital that those most affected by emerging technologies have a strong voice in shaping outcomes.

As we move towards 2030, Ireland believes that the transformative power of emerging technologies has the potential to help us deliver sustainable development and to create opportunities for global peace and prosperity.

I believe the Pact for the Future that we have now agreed collectively provides the basis for this important work.

The test will be in its implementation.

Thank you.