European Commission vice-president Neelie Kroes and Ireland's Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte, TD
European Commission vice-president Neelie Kroes and Ireland’s Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte, TD, took time out from their schedule at the Digital Agenda Assembly in Dublin this morning to talk about issues such as digital entrepreneurship, the need to empower young people in Europe with ICT skills and the scope for increasing broadband penetration levels and boosting speeds in Ireland and across the continent.
Against the backdrop of a sunny mid-summer morning at Dublin Castle earlier today, before the start of the plenary session at the Digital Agenda Assembly, Kroes and Rabbitte gave a doorstep interview with the press about topical issues for citizens in Europe right now, including achieving better broadband speeds, ICT skills and getting younger people interested in pursuing careers in the digital space.
Rabbitte spoke about the challenges ahead in terms of high-speed broadband, while Kroes touched on the cuts to the Connecting Europe Facility’s (CEF) budget in relation to the high-speed broadband agenda for Europe.
The duo also talked about how the digital economy is integral to Europe’s future, especially in relation to job creation, filling ICT vacancies and shaping the next generation of digital entrepreneurs both in Ireland and in Europe in general.
Siliconrepublic.com also got to ask Kroes about what positive discussions have been taking place at the Digital Agenda Assembly over the past two days in terms of empowering young people in Europe with ICT skills.
Kroes became quickly animated, recalling the talk 13-year-old Irish coder Jordan Casey gave at the assembly yesterday and his enthusiasm when talking about getting started in business.
Watch our video interview with Kroes and Rabbitte here:
