Leaders from nine of the EU's top digital economies were welcomed to Dublin's Digital Hub by Minister Pat Breen, TD, to discuss the potential of AI technology. Minster of State for Trade, Employment, Business and EU Digital Single Market Pat Breen, TD, today (15 May) welcomed a number of EU ministers at the Digital Hub's Digital Depot for the Digital 9 (D9) EU conference, which brings together nine of the top EU countries as ranked by the Digital Economy and Social Index (DESI) to discuss the issues of forward-thinking tech economies. The event was a joint effort of the Irish Government's business development departments, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. These D9 representatives meet regularly. They have convened in Stockholm, Brussels and now Dublin, and will convene again in Estonia next year.

Minister Breen stated, "Ireland's engagement at the forefront of initiatives at EU level to progress the digital transformation agenda is essential if we are to maximise the benefits arising from technological developments. Through our long-term Enterprise Strategy, Enterprise 2025, we have committed to developing an ambitious vision and strategy for Ireland's digital economy, that will drive a coordinated, cross-government approach to deliver on a range of inter-related policies, encompassing International and EU developments and developments at both the business environmental level and firm level."

The Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Mr Pat Breen, will today attend EU Digital Day 2018 where he will sign a number of political Declarations, including one on Artificial Intelligence (AI). This one-day event in Brussels is organised by the European Commission and will bring together high-level stakeholders in the fields of digital technology and telecommunication with the aim of putting Europe's digital future in the spotlight. The purpose of Digital Day is to facilitate discussion on priority issues on the digital agenda. The event is structured around initiatives to reach joint commitments related to the digital future of Europe in order to encourage investment in European digital technologies and infrastructures. At the event, Minister Breen will sign up to political Declarations on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Innovation Radar on behalf of Ireland.