Minister Dempsey addresses International Telecoms Conference in Hong Kong on Digital Transformations

Mr Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for Communications Marine and Natural Resources today addressed CEOs from the world's leading ICT companies and Government representatives at the 2006 International Telecommunications Union (ITU) conference in Hong Kong.

Minister Dempsey gave the keynote address at the ITU session on Digital Transformations. This session was chaired by Mr Gordon Orr, Director of McKinsey & Company (China). Other session participants included Mr Guy Sebban, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce; Mr Rory Cole, Chief Operating Officer of Verizon Business; Mr Andre Smit, Asia-Pacific Director of Technical Operations, Cisco Systems and Mr Didier Philippe, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Hewlett-Packard (Switzerland).

Speaking at the forum today Minister Dempsey said: "The Irish Government is committed to policies, programmes and investments that will cultivate an inclusive and sustainable knowledge-led society. These investments and policies have already brought a new vibrancy to Irish research and have lead to many world-class institutes, scientists and firms to now view Ireland as an appropriate base for R&D. Our pro-business policies have been superbly successfully in targeting multinationals to help shape Ireland’s economic and digital transformation. We will continue to work closely with leading international and indigenous ICT companies to maximize Ireland's future potential."

Minister Dempsey added: "In Ireland we see technology and "digital transformation" as a way of allowing people the chance to participate fully in the benefits of Ireland’s recent economic success. We are committed to building a knowledge-led society where technology will provide people with the opportunity to realise their potential – economically, culturally and socially. Allowing a digital form of social exclusion and disadvantage to occur will hamper any knowledge economy and we cannot afford to let that happen

Note for Editors

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is a Geneva based organisation which brings together the world's leading ICT companies, decision-makers, organisations and governments to coordinate global telecom networks and services (www.itu.int). The ITU Telecom World 2006 conference is taking place in Hong Kong from 4-8 December. Minister Dempsey today gave the keynote speech at the Digital Transformations forum at the conference.

ENDS