Speech by Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the IDA Special Recognition Award Ceremony for Microsoft

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Good morning everyone. I am delighted to have this opportunity to recognise Microsoft for their long-standing and continued commitment to Ireland, and I would like to extend a warm welcome to Brad, Carol Ann and the team.

My thanks also to Michael and his team at the IDA for the invitation. IDA’s Special Recognition Award is an important acknowledgement of the significant contribution that IDA client companies make to our economy, our society and our way of life.

And I certainly can’t think of a more worthy recipient.

But first, I understand you have a big birthday this year! So, I would like to formally wish Microsoft a happy half-centenary!

You have had a presence here in Ireland for 40 of those 50 years, demonstrating our long, deep and fruitful partnership, as a key part of Microsoft’s and Ireland’s history – indeed, I and many legislators of my generation consider Microsoft’s investment in 1985 to be one of the country’s gateway investments, which helped to establish Ireland as a technology hub at the edge of Europe.

Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt do Microsoft, agus mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl dóibh, as an méid ollmhór atá déanta acu ar son na hÉireann, as a n-infheistíocht leanúnach sa tír seo agus as a dtiomantas don tír seo.

And Brad, I understand you started your career with Microsoft in Paris, in 1993, and so your connections to Europe go back almost as far as Microsoft’s history here in Ireland.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe now, that when Microsoft set up its manufacturing operation in Leopardstown in 1985, it had fewer than 100 employees.

Over the years, Microsoft has consistently expanded its operations here, with its state-of-the-art campus in Leopardstown, and now 4,000 employees here, delivering highly-skilled, high-value roles.

Microsoft Ireland is home to significant operations, serving as the EMEA headquarters, and the home for a significant Innovation Hub, a Global Finance Hub as well as critical Data Centre operations.

And of course, Microsoft’s impact across local communities has been really positive, including the Dreamspace initiatives, which provide immersive, research-based STEM experiences for students, teachers and communities.

A programme that is about enhancing STEM skills alongside wider critical skills such as empathy, creativity, ethical decision making and collaboration.

Your programmes are invaluable in encouraging, inspiring and preparing our young people for their future.

And Microsoft’s impact expands across the full talent and skills spectrum, with supports for start-ups through the Start-ups Founders Hub and collaborations with research centres and universities.

This new Irish Government is particularly focussed on skills development and life-long learning, so I was very encouraged to learn of the work you are doing on targeted training programmes, (including at PhD level), digital and AI upskilling, mentorship programmes, and the Microsoft-UCD Digital Policy Programme for Government and policy makers.

Indeed, I believe Brad was instrumental in providing funding for the UCD programme, which I’m not surprised to hear has proved very popular.

Over the years, Microsoft has benefited from many inspirational and trail-blazing leaders, and we are delighted to have one such titan here today, in Brad Smith.

A well-known anecdote about Brad involves one of his first jobs in a law firm, where he accepted a role on condition that he would have a personal computer on his desk – this was in 1986. So Brad has always been ahead of the curve!

Microsoft Ireland has mirrored this, with impressive leaders who have themselves been tremendous agents of change, people like Paul Rellis, and Cathriona Hallahan; Anne Sheehan, and now James O’Connor, each of whom has overseen significant growth and evolution, and left a positive legacy.

Since those early days when Microsoft first established a presence here in 1985 - the year Windows 1.0 was launched, marking a new era of personal computing - technology has changed our lives in ways we could never have imagined.

Today, Microsoft continues to be at the cutting edge of innovation and a global leader in the tech industry. This is clear through its focus on cloud-first technology development and its commitment to transformative AI-enabled product delivery and investment, including through its partnership with OpenAI.

And again, we have seen Microsoft’s Irish home as a key part of this journey, with a recent significant investment in AI research and development, which will further embed high-end skills in Ireland’s talent base in this critical area.

We are very pleased to be your partners in this exciting, pioneering work, through IDA Ireland.

I believe that AI can be a game-changer in helping us to deal with many of the economic and societal challenges facing Ireland and the EU.

That’s why the government is determined to step up our efforts to fully realise the benefits of the digital and AI revolution.

We are committed to building on our long-standing reputation as a technology hub to become a global innovation leader.

Ireland has the potential to be a leader in specialised areas of AI and to become a vibrant location for AI innovation. We have the foundations in place.

Despite short-term capacity pressures in energy, which we are working with great focus to overcome, we still have a large presence of data centres, and offshore renewable energy can facilitate many more as it comes on stream.

We have a strong base of skills and digital companies – both multinational and domestic – already here.

We will refresh our National Digital Strategy over the coming months, and set out how to fully realise the potential of the digital and AI revolution.

Of course, whilst AI is bringing about many positive and exciting changes across our economy and society, it comes with new challenges and risks. We are clear that the development and use of AI must be ethical, responsible and trustworthy.

We are committed to investing to make Ireland an EU centre of expertise for digital and data regulation.

Ireland will work closely with the EU to ensure the AI Act is implemented in a proportionate way to deliver the right balance and ensure the EU is open for innovation and for AI business.

Europe must get the balance right here; to realise the full potential of AI, without compromising on our core values.

Ireland will continue to be a strong advocate in Europe for a balanced approach to digital regulation, working with other like-minded EU Member States, and through the D9+ group of digital leaders.

Public trust will be central to our approach – without trust, we will not have adoption. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders, including our industry partners, and our AI Advisory Council to foster that trust.

The government is committed to maintaining our competitiveness in a complex and evolving geo-political environment - and I know how important this is for industry.

That’s why we are taking the necessary steps to position Ireland for the future, including commitments in the new Programme for Government to address issues including costs, planning, energy and R&D.

We will publish a new Action Plan for Competitiveness and Productivity to ensure these vital areas are prioritised, and to protect the future security of our economy.

Our new IDA Strategy to 2029 is likewise focused on sustainable growth and innovation, with a target of €250 billion of new investment by 2029, including €7 billion of RD&I investment.

Importantly, it prioritises upskilling and talent development to ensure we maintain and build on our strong talent base which, of course, is consistently recognised as one of the keystones in our attractiveness as an investment location.

This will ensure our workforce and the broader economy are well-positioned for the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Microsoft’s journey – and success - here in Ireland, and from here in Europe, is a reminder of the longevity of investment decisions, and the core qualities that influence those decisions.

The strengths and vision that Ireland offered back in 1985 when Microsoft chose to invest here, continue to be a central part of our offering today.

This includes membership of the EU, an unshakeable commitment to our underlying economic model, a determination to deliver on talent and education, a collaborative ecosystem for innovation and partnership, and an appetite to build on the opportunities that being a small, open economy offers.

Echoing the long-standing bonds across the Atlantic, the ties between Microsoft and Ireland are deep and strong, nurtured through close partnership and collaboration over four decades.

In his 2019 book, ‘Tools and Weapons’, co-authored with Carol Ann who is also here today, Brad included an anecdote about the openness and responsiveness of the Irish Government in the 1990s when Microsoft was deciding where to build their first European Data Centre, and how this experience led – against the odds I might add - to that investment coming to Ireland.

I hope – and trust – that today you find a similar openness and willingness to collaborate and engage, Brad.

I am delighted to have this opportunity to recognise Microsoft’s significant contribution to Ireland, in their 40th year here, and especially to welcome Brad to Dublin, to accept this award on Microsoft’s behalf.

Déanaim comhghairdeas libh ar ócáid mhór seo agus sibh ag ceiliúradh 40 bliain in Éirinn i mbliana agus déanaim comhghairdeas libh freisin faoin ngradam a bronnadh oraibh inniu. Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh go léir sult as an gceiliúradh.

Congratulations to all of you at Microsoft. I have no doubt you will continue to thrive here in Ireland, as our valued partners, and I wish you every continued success.

Thank you.