Communications Minister Eamon Ryan, T.D. today signed the OECD Ministerial Declaration on the future of the Internet Economy at a Ministerial meeting in Seoul, Korea.
The meeting, which occurs every 10 years, brings together civil society, industry and policy makers from across the world to map out the future direction of the internet.
The declaration aims to promote 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 internet. It sets out policies to strengthen security on the internet so that it can become a truly global economic and social infrastructure.
Speaking from Seoul, Minister Ryan said "Discussing these issues with my Ministerial Colleagues and leading companies in the internet economy has confirmed my view that competition between different platform providers is the key driver in delivering internet access networks. Clearly, those countries which have the most open access networks will be the most successful in a new digital economy. Such open access is a crucial issue in the creation of an environment which encourages the development of new digital services to the public.
Ireland can be promoted as a leading internet economy by providing flexible and ubiquitous connectivity to the internet. As a location for 210 international ICT companies and with 600 of our own software enterprises, such open access connectivity could set us up as a test location for new digital internet technologies.
Competition is working for us, as can be seen from the statistics published by ComReg yesterday showing we have passed two broadband milestones. We now have one million broadband subscribers and for the first time we have surpassed the OECD average on broadband penetration.
Ten years ago the internet was sometimes called the information superhighway. This analogy still applies today with a recognition that the roadway must now extend into every byway of Irish life.
I am looking forward to building on this declaration as we develop a creative information strategy for Ireland.”
-ENDS-
Notes to Editor:
Link to OECD Declaration –
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/49/28/40839436.pdf
Link to speeches made by Minister Ryan during Ministerial Council -
http://kr.youtube.com/profile_videos?p=d&user=FutureInternet&page=3
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=1AEhGaRIMA8
This event was organised in recognition of the increasingly critical role of the internet to our economies and societies as a powerful driver of innovation, growth, and productivity as well as an opportunity to significantly improve performance in environmental, heath care, education and other public service areas.
Senior OECD official and Conference organiser, Mr Andrew Wyckoff, paid tribute to Minister Ryan's "shining contribution" to the conference and welcomed his call to "creatively harness the internet – the internet of things as Minister Ryan described it – to address our environment challenges".
For further information, please contact:
Press Office
Department of Communications, Energy &
Natural Resources
T: 01 678 2441
E.mail: press.office@dcenr.gov.ie
Dearbhú Idirnáisiúnta um Thodhchaí Geilleagar an Idirlín arna Shíniú ag an Aire Ó Riain
Borradh faoi chúrsaí iomaíochta in Éirinn agus na staidrimh is déanaí ag léiriú feabhais ar chumas na hÉireann a páirt a ghlacadh
Baile Átha Cliath, 21ú Iúil 2008
Inniu do shínigh an tAire um Chumarsáid Éamonn Ó Riain T.D. Dearbhú na nAirí den Eagraíocht um Chomhar agus Fhorbairt Eacnamaíochta (ECFE) ar thionól na nAirí i Seoul na Cóiré.
Cruinníonn an tionól seo a reáchtáiltear gach deich mbliana lucht an tsochaí sibhialta, lucht tionscail agus lucht an bheartais as gach aird den domhan le céile chun treochtaí an idirlín a chinntiú don todhchaí.
Comhchlaonadh a chur chun chinn ar na bhfearais digiteacha chun líonraithe, ar na bhfeidhmiúcháin agus ar na seirbhísí is bun leis an nDearbhú. Tá faoi cruthaitheacht a spreagadh ach an fhoinse oscailte agus tréithe na rochtaine oscailte ar an idirlíon a chaomhnú. Leagtar amach beartais ann d’fhonn cur le slándáil an idirlín chun gur féidir leis diaidh ar ndiaidh bheith mar bhonneagar fíor-dhomhanda eacnamaíoch sóisialta.
Ag caint dó as Seoul dúirt an tAire Ó Riain: “Agus na hábhair seo curtha faoi chaibidil agam le mo Chomh-Airí agus le gnólachtaí ceannródacha i gcúrsaí eacnamaíochta an idirlín táim cinnte de gur iomaíocht i measc soláthraithe na léibheann éagsúil an bun-spreagadh chun líonraí a sheachadadh a thugann rochtain ar an idirlíon. Is léir gur sna tíortha ina bheidh na líonraí rochtana is oscailte a bheidh an rath is mó san ngeilleagar digiteach nua. Tá rochtain oscailte dá leithéid sár-thábhachtach chun timpeallacht a chruthú a ghríosfaidh soláthraithe chun na seirbhísí nua a fhorbairt don phobal.
“Is féidir Éire a chur chun chinn mar gheilleagar idirlín ceannródach ach nascacht solúbtha uileláithreach don idirlíon a sholáthar. Agus 210 gnólacht idirnáisiúnta maraon le 600 tionscnaíocht bogearraí ar an láthair againn d’fhéadfadh nascacht tríd rochtain oscailte an tír a ghairm mar ionad tástála dos na teicneolaíochtaí idirlín digiteacha nua.
“Tá ag éirí linn ó thaobh iomaíochais de mar a léirítear sna staitisticí a fhoilsigh ComReg inné ina léirítear dhá gharsprioc leathanbhanda a bheith sáraithe againn. Tá aon mhilliún rannpháirtí leathanbhanda againn agus, don chéad uair riamh, meán an ECFE um dhul i bhfód ar an margadh leathanbhanda sáraithe againn.
“Táim ag tnúth le dul i bhfad thar an Dearbhú seo agus straitéis eolais chruthaitheach á fhorbairt againn d’Éirinn”.
CRÍOCH
Nótái don eagarthóir:
Nasc do Dhearbhú an ECFE (i mBéarla) –
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/49/28/40839436.pdf
Naisc do óráidí an Aire le linn Tionól na nAirí (i mBéarla) –
http://kr.youtube.com/profile_videos?p=d&user=FutureInternet&page=3
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=1AEhGaRIMA8
Eagraíodh an ócáid seo mar aitheantas ar ghnó sár-thábhachtach an idirlín don ngeilleagar agus don sochaí againn go léir chun nuálaíocht, borradh agus táirgiúlacht a thiomáint go láidir agus mar dheis chun feabhas suntasach a dhéanamh ar ár gcuid feidhmiúcháin sna hearnálacha seirbhísí poiblí – an comhshaol, cúram sláinte, an t-oideachas agus araile.
Thug an tUasal Andrew Wyckoff, oifigeach sinsearach de chuid an ECFE agus eagraí an Tionóil, ard-mholadh do “chion taibhseach” ón Aire don tionól agus chuir fáilte roimh glaoch an Aire “go mbainfear leas go cruthaitheach as an idirlíon – idirlíonra na nithe , mar a ghlaoigh an tAire air – chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar dhúshláin an chomhshaoil”.