Latest news with #EmerHiggins
Irish Post
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Post
Irish government reveals date new state-of-the-art data centre set to open
A NEW state-of-the-art government data centre is set to be completed by the end of this year, Ireland's Digitalisation Minister Emer Higgins has confirmed. Work began on the site, in Backweston, Co. Kildare, in 2023 and the construction project was completed in July of this year. The internal fit-out is expected to be completed by the end of this year, with services migrating to the new tech centre in early 2026. Ireland's Digitilisation Minister Emer Higgins has provided an update on the new data centre Developed as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), under the European Union's recovery plan, NextGenerationEU, the data centre is set to future proof the delivery of essential digital services in Ireland. 'The Backweston shared Government Data Centre is a fantastic example of how NextGenerationEU funding is delivering real, tangible results,' Minister Higgins said after visting the site this week. 'This complex build was completed on time and on budget, which is a testament to the skill and dedication of everyone involved,' she added. 'It will harness the latest and most efficient technologies to ensure that vital Government data is stored in a secure and energy-efficient way, meeting the Government's technology and energy-saving requirements both now and into the future. 'This state-of-the-art facility will give State bodies the ICT infrastructure they need to work more efficiently, streamline processes, reduce duplication and bring greater consistency to how public services are delivered,' the minister explained. 'It will be operational from 2026 onwards, marking a significant step forward in our digital transformation journey, delivering on commitments in the Programme for Government and ultimately helping us to provide better public services to the people of Ireland. I welcome this important progress.' See More: Data Centre, Emer Higgins, Ireland, Kildare
The Journal
6 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Where is the government storing all its ‘vital data'? In a centre in Co Kildare, of course
THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW data centre has been delivered on time and on budget. This afternoon, Minister of State with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment Emer Higgins, paid a visit to the new Government Data Centre at Backweston in Co Kildare. Construction on the data centre began in 2023 and was completed last month. However, work is still underway on the internal fit-out, which is due to be completed by the end of the year. This state-of-the-art building was developed under the European Union's recovery plan, NextGenerationEU. This recovery plan provides financial aid to EU States to combat the economic and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and make the European economy 'more resistant to future shocks'. Advertisement Ireland's allocation is €1.15 billion, and the government submitted its third payment request, with a value of €240 million, earlier this week. Ireland has already received its first and second payments of €324 million and €115 million respectively. The third payment request includes the expansion of the rehabilitation of peatlands, as well as further works on electrification of the transport networks in Cork and Drogheda. Meanwhile, a government spokesperson said that the new data centre will 'provide secure operations that will future proof the reliable delivery of essential digital services to the public'. Once the fit-out of the building is complete, the migration of services to the new facility is scheduled to begin early next year. Higgins said Backweston Data Centre is a 'fantastic example of how the NextGenerationEU funding is delivering real, tangible results'. She said the fact that the 'complex' build was completed on time and on budget is a 'testament to the skill and dedication of everyone involved'. She said the new data centre will use the 'latest and most efficient technologies to ensure that vital Government data is stored in a secure and energy-efficient way'. Related Reads British government asks people to delete old emails to reduce data centres' water use Does Ireland need more data centres in the near future? Yes, says Taoiseach Build it and they will hum: What next for Ireland and data centres? Higgins said this will help the State in meeting its technology and energy-saving requirements 'both now and into the future'. 'This state-of-the-art facility will give State bodies the ICT infrastructure they need to work more efficiently, streamline processes, reduce duplication and bring greater consistency to how public services are delivered,' said Higgins. She also described it as a 'significant step forward in our digital transformation journey' and that it will 'ultimately help us to provide better public services'. In England, people have been urged to delete old photos and emails to reduce demands on data centres, which require large amounts of water. Dr Venkatesh Uddameri, a Texas-based expert in water resources management, recently told the BBC that a typical data centre can use between 11 million and 19 million litres of water per day, roughly the same as a town of 30,000 to 50,000 people. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
30-07-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Ireland joins countries calling for immediate Gaza ceasefire & two-state solution amid ‘urgent humanitarian aid' calls
IRELAND has joined 14 countries in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the implementation of a two-state solution. Junior Minister Emer Higgins represented 3 Junior Minister Emer Higgins represented Ireland at an international conference in New York On the back of this meeting, 14 countries including Ireland agreed to send out a joint statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of This would see two democratic states in Israel and The countries that came together to back the statement include: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain. Tanaiste READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS The Foreign Affairs Minister said: 'The international community demands an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal and urgent humanitarian aid for Gaza, and is ready to take concrete steps to implement the two-State solution. 'Ireland is doubling down on our commitment to achieve a just, lasting peace where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace and security. We will continue to do all in our power to work for that peace.' On October 7, 2023, the Hamas Israel has since bombarded Gaza in a military campaign that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. Most read in The Irish Sun The Israeli Defence Forces have also blocked aid from getting into Gaza which has left people including children to starve to death. The joint statement from the 14 countries agreed at the New York conference makes a series of calls including for a ceasefire, release of hostages and the implementation of a two-state solution. DOUBLING DOWN The Foreign Ministers also expressed grave concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for the United Nations and its aid agencies to be allowed in to help people. The statement adds that the Ministers: 'Have already recognised, have expressed or express the willingness or the positive consideration of our countries to recognise the state of Palestine, as an essential step towards the two-state solution, and invite all countries that have not done so to join this call. 'Urge countries who have not done so yet to establish normal relations with Israel, and to express their willingness to enter into discussions on the regional integration of the state of Israel; 'Express our determination to work on an architecture for the 'day after' in Gaza which guarantees the reconstruction of Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from the Palestinian governance.' 3 The war in Gaza has been ongoing for nearly two years Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 Tanaiste Simon Harris signed a letter on Ireland's behalf calling for a ceasefire and two-state solution Credit: PA Media, All Rights Reserved
RTÉ News
30-07-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Ireland, 14 other nations call for two-state solution in Gaza
Tánaiste Simon Harris has said that Ireland signed a joint statement alongside 14 other foreign ministers to call for an immediate Gaza ceasefire and the implementation of a two-state solution. The meeting took place at the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in New York this week. Other signatories included: Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain. The conference was attended by over 130 UN Member States. The meeting highlighted the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the urgent need for a ceasefire, release of hostages and unimpeded humanitarian access into and throughout Gaza. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade said the conference demonstrated that there is another way forward, adding that the "international community demands an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal" as well as urgent humanitarian aid for Gaza. He added that they were ready to take "concrete steps" to implement the two-state solution. "Ireland is doubling down on our commitment to achieve a just, lasting peace where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace and security. We will continue to do all in our power to work for that peace." Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment, Emer Higgins, represented Ireland at the conference. Recognition of Palestinian state The 15 Western nations also called on countries worldwide to move to recognise a Palestinian state, according to France's top diplomat. President Emmanuel Macron announced last week he would formally recognise Palestinian statehood in September, provoking strong opposition from Israel and the United States. France is hoping to build momentum around the formal recognition of a Palestinian state. Yesterday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the UK will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September unless Israel takes various "substantive steps", including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza. Mr Starmer's move, paired with Paris, would make the two European allies the first G7 nations to do so. In the joint statement, the nations affirmed their "unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution." Nine of the signatories which have not yet recognised the Palestinian state expressed "the willingness or the positive consideration of their countries" to do so, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Seventeen countries, plus the European Union and Arab League, during the conference joined calls for Hamas to disarm and end its rule of Gaza, in a bid to end the devastating war in the Palestinian territory.
Irish Independent
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
More than 3,000 archaic laws revoked under new bill, including rewards for reporting crimes such as beating people with nettles
Today, matters like those are dealt with through different regulatory channels, but the old laws provide insight into the social issues of past generations. Thousands of old statutes, many of which are hundreds of years old, have now been repealed, marking the biggest clean-up of out-of-date legislation in the State's history. Among more than 3,000 instruments being revoked are 2,500 proclamations offering rewards for suspected criminals. This also includes a proclamation for 'posting threatening notices about land, voting and potatoes'. The Statute Law Revision Act 2024, now signed into law, also revokes hundreds of proclamations specific to individual counties. Co Tipperary alone accounted for 426 of those proclamations, highlighting 'historical social unrest' in the area. The 18th and 19th centuries in Tipperary saw significant upheaval, with many land disputes causing tensions and conflict between landlords and their tenants. Dublin had just 71 such proclamations. In one proclamation, a specific prayer was prescribed for use during the Famine. 'This Act is a landmark moment in our ongoing commitment for legislative clarity and transparency. By repealing over 3,000 outdated instruments, we are not only decluttering our statute book but also making it more accessible and understandable for all,' Junior Minister in the Department of Publix Expenditure Emer Higgins said. 'The work of the Law Reform Commission and the Department in reviewing over 40,000 instruments has been meticulous and invaluable. While the repeals offer a snapshot of our country's rich history, this is about ensuring that our laws reflect the Ireland of today – not the Ireland of centuries past.' The Department of Public Expenditure said that while these instruments are 'often curious or archaic', their place on the statue book creates 'unnecessary complexity'. It said the removal of those instruments ensures Ireland's legal system 'remains modern, relevant and fit for purpose'. 'I welcome the signing into law of this important legislation which marks an important step in our ongoing work to modernise Ireland's legislative framework,' Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said. 'Many of the repeals offer insight into the priorities and challenges faced by our country in times gone by and their repeal provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made as a society'. The Department noted the bill marks 'the most extensive statute law revision effort ever undertaken globally'.
