Developing closer links between Ireland and Japan in the communications sector was top of the agenda as Minister Ryan visited Japan last week. The purpose of the visit was to examine Japan’s impressive growth as a ‘ubiquitous networked society’ and to identify how Ireland can learn from the Japanese experience.
Addressing the annual Ireland-Japan Chamber of Commerce meeting, Minister Ryan said “Japan’s insatiable appetite to develop communications is matched by Ireland’s capacity and willingness to create a knowledge economy. Many new opportunities exist for Ireland and Japan to work together in developing cutting edge technologies.”
Minister Ryan was briefed on Japan’s developing work on linking ICT to the reduction in CO2 emissions, which is something that is also currently being developed by his department. The Minister said “Although ICT itself produces CO2 emissions, it is overall a powerful contributor to the reduction of CO2 emissions through greater efficiency in production, consumption, business activities and traffic flows. This is the aim of the WorkFlow project which my Department is currently working on, which is an innovative project designed to not only minimise the commuting time of workers but to also significantly reduce CO emissions. I hope to build on Ireland’s relationship with Japan in the continued development of this work. We have agreed to explore a formal exchange process with Japan that will shine a light on the work being undertaken in each of our countries. We will also work together to build on current collaborations and to identify and facilitate new opportunities across a range of technology solutions to address the many common challenges we both face as successful developed economies.”
The Minister used the opportunity of the visit to reassure the Japanese Government, industry and media that Ireland remains a strong supporter and active member of the EU despite the result of the Lisbon referendum.
Minister Ryan’s visit to Japan was preceded earlier in the week by his participation in the OECD Ministerial meeting on the future of the Internet Economy Seoul Korea, where he signed an OECD declaration on the future of the Internet.
-ENDS-
Note to Editor:
The OECD meeting of Ministers, held in Seoul, brought together civil society, industry and policy makers from across the world to map out the future direction of the internet. The OECD declaration singed at that meeting promotes the ongoing convergence of digital networking devices, applications and services. It aims to foster creativity by protecting the open source and open access characteristics of the net. It sets out policies to strengthen security on the net so that it can become a truly global economic and social infrastructure.
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Tairbhe le Naisc Níos Dlútha idir Éirinn agus an tSeapáin mar gur Cabhair Nuálaíocht TEC do Bhainistíocht an Chomshaoil
Cuairt seachtaine ar an tSeapáin agus ar an gCóiré díreach críochnaithe ag an Aire Ó Riain
Baile Átha Cliath, 23ú Meitheamh 2008
Agus é ag tabhairt cuairte ar an tSeapáin an tseachtain seo caite bhí naisc níos dlútha a chothú idir Éirinn agus an tSeapáin in earnáil na cumarsáide ar bharr an chlár oibre ag an Aire Ó Riain. Borradh mórthaibhseach na Seapáine ina sochaí agus gach aird di gréasánach a iniúchadh ab údar don chuairt agus a aithint conas a fhéadfadh Éire foghlaim ó thaithí na Seapáine.
Ag tabhairt aitheasc uaidh ar chruinniú bliantúil Chomhlachas Lucht Trádála Éireannach Seapánach, dúirt an tAire: “Freagraíonn fonn doshásta na Seapáine chun cúrsaí cumarsáide a fhorbairt do chumas agus toilteanas na hÉireann chun geilleagar an eolais a chothú. Is iomaí deis ann d’Éirinn agus don tSeapáin obair le céile chun teicneolaíochtaí ceannródaíocha a fhorbairt.”
Cuireadh an tAire ar an eolas faoi fhorbairtí reatha na Seapáine chun Teicneolaíochtaí an Eolais agus na Cumarsáide (TEC) a nascadh chun astuithe CO2 a laghdú, forbairt atá ar siúl ina Roinn féin freisin. Arsa an tAire: “Cé go ngineann TEC a gcuid féin astuithe CO2, san iomlán cuidíonn siad go láidir le laghdú na n-astuithe CO2 de bharr breis fheidhmiúlachta i gcúrsaí tairgthe, san tomhaltas, i gcúrsaí gnó agus i sruthlú na tráchta. Sin is cuspóir don tionscnamh “Sruth na hOibre” atá idir lámha ag mo Roinn-se agus ar thionscnamh nuálaíoch é ní hamháin chun aga comaitéireachta na n-oibrithe a íoslaghdú ach astuithe CO2 a laghdú go suntasach leis. Tá súil agam gur féidir forbairt leanúnach na hoibre seo a bhunú ar chaidreamh na hÉireann leis an tSeapáin. D’aontaíomar féachaint isteach sa scéal próiseas malairte foirmiúil a bhunú leis an tSeapáin, próiseas a dhíreoidh suim ar a bhfuil ar siúil san dá thír. Oibreofar freisin chun na comharaíochtaí atá ann faoi láthair a úsáid mar bhonn agus chun deiseanna nua a aithint agus a éascú feadh réimse leathan de réitigh d’fhonn freagairt don iliomad comh-dhúshláin atá romhainn araon mar gheilleagair forbartha éiritheacha.”
Ghlac an tAire an deis le Rialtas na Seapáine, lucht tionscail agus lucht na meán a chur ar a suaimhneas gur dhlúth-thacadóir Éire don AE agus Ballstát gníomhach in ainneoin toradh Reifreann na Liospóine.
Nós luaithe sa tseachtain roimh cuairt an Aire Uí Riain ar an tSeapáin ghlac sé páirt in oll-chruinniú Airí na hEagraíochta um Chomhar Eacnamaíoch agus Fhorbairt (ECEF) i leith todhchaí an Gheilleagar Idirlín i Seoul na Cóiré áit ar shínigh sé forógra an EFET um thodhchaí an Idirlín.
CRÍOCH