Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Digital 9+ (D9+) is an informal, strategic grouping of the more digitally advanced EU Member States according to the annual Digital Economy and Society Index. The group was formed in 2016 and its aim is to exchange opinions and best practices on different areas of action related to the EU’s digital transformation. The D9+ seeks to lead the digital transformation of the EU by advancing policies on the four pillars of: human capital, connectivity, integration of digital technologies in businesses and, digital public services.

The group’s members are Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, Estonia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Czechia, Luxembourg and Spain. Having last held the role of Chair in 2018, Ireland will Chair the group for the first half of 2024 and will convene a Ministerial meeting in April 2024.

There are usually two main topics for discussion at each meeting, which are proposed by the Member holding the rotating chair. My officials and I are continuing to explore what themes should be discussed next April. Among those under consideration are issues such as artificial intelligence, the regulatory framework, data, cybersecurity, and technology and sustainability. It is also important that the D9+ has an opportunity to articulate its views on the direction which the incoming EU Commission should take as it develops its work programme for 2024-2029. This will be a critical phase for the implementation of the Digital Decade 2030 Policy Programme, as well as setting the broader tone for Europe in the global digital and technology economy in the short to medium term.

Our aim is that Ireland's period as chair of the D9+ will provide positive momentum to the digital transformation of the EU by advocating for openness, innovation, and balanced regulation in the digital sphere.

As part of the D9+ meeting next April, the Business 9+ Group, (the B9+) will also be invited to discuss matters of mutual interest relevant to the digital economy. The B9+ is made up of the confederations of enterprises from the different Members of the D9+ and IBEC is Ireland’s representative on the B9+.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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It is my and this Government's ambition for Ireland to remain a digital leader at the heart of European and global digital developments.

Our National Digital Strategy "Harnessing Digital: the Digital Ireland Framework" sets out a roadmap to drive the digital transition across the economy and society, with progress seen across enterprise, skills, infrastructure, and public services.

In addition, there is strong alignment between the EU's Digital Decade 2030 Policy Programme and Ireland's recently published White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 regarding digitalisation.

We are ranked 5th in the EU Digital Economy and Society Index but we must continue to drive the agenda and strive to keep pushing ahead with our ambitions across all of the enterprise sector.

We have ambitious targets across Government under the National Digital Strategy. In my own Department, for our enterprise sector, our aim is for 90% of SMEs to have achieved basic digital intensity by 2030 and 75% of all enterprises to be using cloud, AI and big data in the same timeframe.

Our strong position in digital policy also comes from the fact that many of the world's most popular digital services and technology companies choose to establish their European bases here. Moreover, some of the most important digital regulators are here, given our position at the centre of the Single Market. We take our obligations very seriously and have continued to invest in our regulatory framework.

Within Europe, Ireland will continue to make the case for a balanced and optimal approach to digital regulation focusing on striking the right mix between the necessary regulation and the need to foster innovation and competitiveness.

To further demonstrate our leadership in digital policy, in the first half of 2024, Ireland will take the chair of the Digital 9+ (D9+) grouping of countries. The D9+ is an informal, strategic grouping of the more digitally advanced EU Member States whose aim is to exchange opinions and best practices on different areas of action related to EU’s digital transformation.