I’m delighted to be here today to officially open Sky Ireland’s new office in Dublin.
Sky is already employing 450 people here in Ireland in its customer-service centre and within six months will increase that to 800 people.
In an ever shrinking world, companies like Sky are at the forefront of connecting people and cultures. The television, information and communication services provided by companies like Sky have transformed how we learn, communicate and share information. It is an industry always on the move, working on the next innovation and expanding their reach across the world.
I would like to thank JD Buckley for his invitation to join you today and would like to congratulate him and all the staff for the expansion of Sky’s footprint in Ireland.
This is very encouraging news for job seekers and the Dublin area.
As you probably are aware, the creation of jobs is a top priority for this government. To achieve this we are busy making the changes necessary across the economy to make Ireland more competitive and attractive for investment.
Through the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs we are moving away from an economy based on property and debt to a new and better proposition based on enterprise, exports and innovation. Right now we’re finalising our Action Plan for 2013 to build on vital work, changes and gains of the last year.
As the global economy continues to embrace a digital future, there are rich and significant opportunities here for Ireland particularly when you take into account our geographical position as the gateway to Europe for America and vice versa.
With the move from analogue to digital, you yourselves have identified the potential that the Irish digital economy offers. You see the clusters of world-renowned hi-tech companies and innovators, the huge potential and opportunity in terms of the digital economy. We’re a great location for digital-content providers and for companies looking to source highly-educated, highly-motivated workers. That’s why you’re here.
But just as critically we are combining the essence of who we are in Ireland, as dramatists, story-tellers, to create new niches markets and new opportunities in the creative arts and media.
Our audiovisual industry is vibrant and showing great promise for the future both terms of the Arts and the economy generally. I have a big interest in this area and am anxious to see it reach its full potential.
As I speak the Irish Film Board is finalising its review on the extension of tax reliefs for audiovisual production. And I commend you at Sky for your decision to film in Ireland and to use Irish production facilities. The first series of Moone Boy which was filmed in Boyle in County Roscommon has been so well received and has put Irish talent, and Boyle, on the map. We’re looking forward now to a decision on developing the next series too.
At the moment Ireland is very much on the European map and mind because we hold the Presidency of the European Union. Our Presidency recognises that the Single Market of the future will be based on the digital economy. The digital sector offers clear potential for growth and we want to make that the EU is ready to encourage and support this. To that end, our Presidency programme contains a significant, legislative package in relation to the digital agenda.
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