Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the recently signed Digital Sister Cities Memorandum of Understanding with the Mayor of San Francisco; the impact for the digital hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13632/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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This digital sister city initiative is designed to stimulate economic development by connecting cities from around the world through advanced technologies. Digital sister cities identify ways to positively impact the global economy and, in so doing, strengthen their own economic foundation.

The digital hub is very enthusiastic about opening new collaborative channels for digital hub companies and research activities. It already has an established mechanism to source and disseminate information on Irish digital media enterprise and resources to manage and administer the process.

With the hub's existing connection to Dublin City Council, the third level sector and the creative and enterprise participants in their project, the digital hub has the right mix of capabilities to drive some pragmatic initiatives to happen within the digital sister cities framework. It will use those resources to support the sister initiative.

The hub has already indicated it would welcome the opportunity to explore how international collaboration could facilitate innovative exhibits and increase visitor numbers and will pursue this with its sister counterparts.

Under the sister initiative, a Digital Media Advisory Council, DMAC, will be established in each location. The purpose of the DMAC is to act as a voice for all the Irish organisations that may wish to participate in the sister initiative. A group with representation from digital media enterprise, education, arts and culture and the city of Dublin will be established in the first instance. The possibility of involving other Irish digital media based collaborations will be examined.