The Department of the Taoiseach, in conjunction with the Government Data Forum, will host the Data Summit 2018 in Croke Park today, Wednesday 19 September.
Following on from last year’s event, the Data Summit 2018 is intended to showcase the Irish Government’s determination to stay at the forefront of data and digital related developments and initiate a dialogue on their ever-expanding role in modern society.
The Summit will address several important themes including keynote panels on regulating online developments whilst sustaining innovation; exploring the implications of artificial intelligence for society; and on how the GDPR may influence countries outside of the EU.
The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, and the Minister of State with special responsibility for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen will both address the Summit. Other speakers at the event will include senior officials from the European Commission and other pan-European bodies that exert an influence on data and digital developments, as well as notable figures from industry, NGOs, academia and representative bodies.
This year the Summit was preceded by a smaller evening event on Tuesday 18 September where speakers and specific guests were invited to a reception. In addition to a welcoming address by the Taoiseach, there was a panel-led discussion on likely technological developments over the next five years and possible policy/regulatory responses during the reception.
Speaking at the evening event in Dublin Castle, the Taoiseach said:
We want to keep Ireland at the forefront of technological developments and the Data Summit is an important part of that. Almost all sectors are affected by the digital transformation – from healthcare to education, and from industry to law enforcement, spanning both the public and private sectors.
Data and technology are being combined to improve how we go about our business and our daily lives. It’s bigger than any one sector and must involve all of us. The discussions at this year’s Data Summit on regulation, sustaining innovation and the implications of artificial intelligence will help to inform the Government’s policy response to these important issues.
Minister Breen added:
I am delighted to be hosting the second Data Summit. As the tech capital of Europe, Ireland is perfectly placed to kick-start a global conversation on how me might strike the right balance between encouraging data and digital innovation and maximise its potential, while ensuring that privacy is protected through the appropriate regulation.
Minister Naughten said:
We need to build on the current success of the Digital Single Market and develop forward-thinking policies for the benefit of our citizens and a society. We must avoid over-regulation and protectionism which risks isolating Europe, effectively building digital walls around us all. The Data Summit offers a great opportunity for all concerned to discuss a future vision for Europe.
Note to Editors:
The Government Data Forum was established in July 2015 to advise Government on opportunities and challenges arising from the growth of the digital economy, in particular those arising from continuing growth in the generation and use of personal data. Member of the Forum, which is chaired by Minister Pat Breen, T.D., is drawn from civil society, industry, the public sector and a range of academic disciplines (law, psychology, and sociology).
The Data Summit is supported by the following partners: Arthur Cox, Facebook, Google, IDA Ireland, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Pinsent Masons, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), and William Fry.