Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2026
74. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to set out the Government's definition of digital sovereignty and its approach to this issue at national and European level. [35680/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDigital sovereignty refers to the ability of Ireland and the European Union to act autonomously in shaping and governing digital infrastructure, data and technologies, in line with our economic interests and values, while remaining open to global trade, investment and collaboration.
Ireland supports maintaining the EU’s access to trusted non-EU providers, recognising that partnership is essential for innovation in emerging areas such as AI. Preserving the EU’s openness to trade and investment is vital to competitiveness, while proportionate, risk-based measures ensure security, uphold the Single Market, and reduce strategic dependencies.
At national level, strengthening digital sovereignty is closely linked to the Government’s commitment to driving digitalisation and AI adoption across the economy and society. The publication of Digital Ireland: Connecting our People, Securing our Future in February 2026 marked a significant step in this regard. Key priorities include enhancing digital skills, improving connectivity and infrastructure, advancing the digitalisation of public services, and supporting enterprise adoption of digital technologies. These are recognised as fundamental to long-term competitiveness and sovereignty.
At European level, Ireland signed the Declaration for European Digital Sovereignty in November 2025, joining fellow European Union Member States in a commitment to strengthen Europe's ability to act independently and competitively while remaining open to global competition. The Declaration establishes a common framework for enhancing Europe's digital capabilities while preserving access to open markets, interoperability, and international collaboration with partners who share European values.
Building on that consensus, Digital Security & Resilience will be a key priority for Ireland during the upcoming presidency of the EU council. This includes strengthening EU digital capabilities, secure critical infrastructure, semiconductors, connectivity, and cyber resilience.
Finally, Ireland is also an active member of the D9+ group of digitally advanced EU Member States. This group provides a valuable forum for sharing best practices, deepening international relationships, and supporting Europe’s global leadership in digital transformation. In line with the D9+ Ministerial Declaration adopted in March 2025 in Amsterdam, Ireland has supported calls for increasing the EU’s digital competitiveness and tech sovereignty in an open manner. This means having the ability to act autonomously on the world stage and in line with our values, while reaping the benefits of collaboration with global partners when possible. Ireland will continue this work in close cooperation with partner countries, including in preparation for the upcoming D9+ meeting in Luxembourg on 8 June 2026.
