Last week, two Irishwomen Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke and Ms Vivienne Jupp, head of the Information Society Commission demonstrated that they have the breadth of vision to move Ireland forward into a Net-centric, telecommunications-based future.
Even a year ago, such a future might have seemed more science fiction than science fact. But not so now. There is no longer any question that high-speed networks, multimedia communications, and Internet-based interaction will be the enablers of much of the business and in many cases, the social environment of the future. The United States not exactly the most frivolous of business economies is gearing itself towards this future shift. And, of course, in creating it, they're also defining it.
Because of the pivotal role it has always held in this area, the US will probably always be the central player in the digital economy. But there will certainly be centres in other countries which will develop the infrastructure and attitudes which will draw Netbased business and the services which support it.
As Mr Ira Magaziner, President Clinton's senior policy adviser on trade who was in Dublin last week, noted repeatedly, no country in Europe is necessarily better prepared at this moment than anywhere else to fill this leadership role. But he emphasised both in a formal speech and in a conversation that he believes Ireland could (and even should) be that country.
It is clear that no country is as well positioned as Ireland to take that role. Many of the technology companies in the US already consider Ireland to be the most technology-welcoming and aware of European countries. They prove it with their feet and their dollars.
Americans gravitate towards Irelands bottom line) but because they feel the two countries share an informality and ease of manner that makes for productive communication and good business relations. They like the overall business climate and they admire the State's technology graduates. In a tight international technology skills market, that's a big plus for Ireland.
Until now, one would have had doubts as to whether anyone with the power to move Ireland aggressively in the direction of a wired future understood the rewards on offer, much less the penalties for doing nothing.
But last week, Ms O'Rourke and Ms Jupp organised a conference in Dublin with a carefully selected list of the people who must be convinced of the need for this bold new step.
In so doing, they revealed a clear understanding of what needs to be done.
At the same time, the Government released its first significant documents to reveal a serious and, more crucially, a global approach to creating an international electronic commerce base in Ireland a framework document on encryption and digital signatures, the secure technologies which will guarantee that Ireland is seen as non-restrictive and e-commerce knowledgeable.
It was also announced that Ms O'Rourke had appointed a team of international telecommunication and Internet experts to advise on how Ireland should build its telecoms infrastructure.
This week, they followed through with a joint communique with the US government, stating particular commitments to a strong e-commerce environment.
Vision, of course, is only the beginning courage, risk-taking, careful thought and planning, much consultation, funding and a commitment from all levels and areas of Government and business will be needed to follow through.
But a comprehensive vision, which creates an initial guiding space in which other minds can open and ideas can flow, is crucial to such a massive undertaking.
