Enterprise Ireland Security Event
Firstly, let me say how delighted I am to be here – representing the Government – at this significant and important event exploring the need for security and security services in a growing European Market. I am particularly delighted to have been asked to participate – as security is an area of great importance and significance to me – in my role as Minister for the Information Society.
I have no doubt that that this event here today will be as successful as Europe Day was yesterday.
As most of you are aware EU promotion and support of Research and Development through the framework programs have been crucial for the continuing growth of industrial competitiveness in Europe, which I’m happy to say Ireland has been closely involved with.
In the upcoming framework 7 programme an additional line of funding is included for the security research programme with an anticipated spend in the region of 1 to 2 billion euros over the next 5 years. It is essential for Irish companies to participate in the security agenda and I’m delighted to be here today to assist with getting this process underway. After all engaging in this research now gives us the opportunity for early access to the supply chain.
Security Research and Development at the European level gives companies the opportunity to work with end users (e.g., police, fire brigades, border security, etc) to develop towards product solutions. This relationship can then naturally lead to product sales into those same end users. That is the opportunity for industry.
One of the major issues for Security in Europe is interoperability between security organisations across the EU. While many of these matters are people related there will be opportunities in the ICT and other areas too. The challenge to the many companies and research institutes here at Farmleigh today is to figure out how you can get to participate.
This is a world where the barriers of time and space have been removed – where location is no longer a major factor – or at least becoming less of an obstacle – and where information flows much more freely than was the case in the past. Indeed, in the area of e-government – we are putting in mechanisms to make it easier to move information across institutional boundaries - in the interests of more responsive services, protection of our citizens and the elimination of fraud.
This in turn is pointing to the greater need for security in government in the manner in which we handle information – in the way we store and transmit personal information about citizens – in the way we authorise officials to access and use personal information - and in the way we transact business. After all, it is at the very core of Europe that a State protects it’s citizens.
Of course, this is not only an issue for government. Business and the world of electronic commerce also stand to be adversely affected - if we cannot get our security facilities in order – if we fail to build confidence and trust in our systems and procedures – and if we ignore the growing need for greater levels of security - especially in the ‘e’- world.
For Ireland, this is, perhaps, another opportunity to get early mover status – for our indigenous companies and industries to come up with innovative and inventive products and services that will find ways to participate in this growing European Security Industry Sector.
The Irish technology industries have already established a world-wide reputation for excellence – for ingenuity and creativity in many products, particularly for the mobile phone industry – and for the IT industry. While much of our recent success has come about because of foreign direct investment – it is worth remembering that the investors would not have come if the conditions were not right – conditions that very much included the calibre of our people – in terms of their intelligence and education – their creativity - and their talent.
Many of the IT products and services being offered around the world have their origins in Ireland – in the small and dynamic companies that have continued to emerge – companies that have allowed many imaginative and practical ideas to blossom and flourish – and to make an international reputation for a very vibrant sector.
I have absolutely no doubt that this native talent – this ability to see opportunity in adversity – to rise to the many challenges of security – will continue to manifest itself - as this need for greater levels of security – the need for people and organisations to transact business in a paradigm of trust and confidentiality – as this need impacts on the pace of development of Internet-based economic and social activity.
Today is an opportunity to explore the emerging market – to get a greater appreciation of the need for security products and services – and to tease out where the opportunities and challenges lie.
Ireland is seen by many as the leader in products and services – let us continue to work on that perception – to grasp the opportunity – and to exploit our reputation – our expertise – our scale – and our innate creative abilities – to seize the opportunity and establish ourselves as leaders in the vital area of trust and security.
Finally, I know you have an exciting schedule ahead of you – with speakers drawn from across Europe - Khoen Liem, Dermot Woods and Donogh Tierney that have travelled from Europe to be with you today, and I believe you are set to have a fascinating conference and I wish you well with your endeavours here today. You are in very capable hands today with Jim Lawler and his team from Enterprise Ireland.
Thank you.