Driving use of Open Data in Ireland��(The Second Annual State of Open Data Policy Summit)��June 2023

Barry Lowry

Government of Ireland CIO

This morning:

• A little background;�
• The EU Open Data and re-use of Public Sector information Directive (EU) 2019/1024;�
• Ireland’s Strategic Response.

�

1. A little background

Ireland

• 5.1 M population;
• Youngest population in the EU;
• Secured an all-time record level of FDI related investment and employment levels in 2021;
• Has the highest share of employment in high-tech manufacturing and knowledge intensive service sectors in the EU;
• Highest level of STEM graduates per capita in EU;
• Punches above its weight in the Music, Literature, Sport;
• Makes Irish Whiskey & Guinness!

Our Digital Government Building Blocks (2016)

Our citizens should be able to access Government Services at a time and place convenient to them and using their device of choice.

All digital services should be consistent and easy to use. They should also reflect the diversity of our society.

Citizens should not have to tell us what we already know. But our use of their data should be appropriate and transparent.�

We need to ensure that we maximise the value of our data, including historical.

Everyone running their own infrastructure is inefficient, ineffective, increases risk and obstructs data sharing.

Our ambitions are dependent on skills, competence and confidence amongst users, service providers, system builders and leaders.

Good governance is essential to generate trust and confidence among all stakeholders.

Building from Digital Foundations 2021

MyGovID nearly

1.8m verified accounts

The Gov.ie Programme�(6-100M visitors)

• Data Sharing & Governance Act and Data Strategy
• Data Governance Board
• Public Service Data Catalogue
• Data Sharing Playbook
• DSAs
• Open Data

• Growth of BTS Desktop, Hosting & Applications
• Backweston/Cloud policy
• Government Networks Stronger Cyber Security (new Baseline Security Standard)

• ICT Apprenticeship
• Joint Competitions
• Growth in CIOs
• New ways of working

• Digital Leaders
• Public Service Alignment
• Revised Peer Review Process

Open Data in Europe 2022

Our Open Data Portal

2. The EU Open Data and re-use of Public Sector information Directive (EU) 2019/1024�

• Was transposed into Irish law by SI 376/2021 on July 22nd 2021;
• Seeks to continue the strengthening of the EU’s data economy by increasing the amount of public sector data available for re-use, ensuring fair competition and easy access to public sector information, and enhancing cross-border innovation based on data;
• Government data should be open by default and design;
• Release of non-personal data in open formats and to open standards.
• Data to be available in real time and via APIs (where possible).
• New rules on charging - free reuse becomes a principle.
• Re-use of publically funded research data.
• List of High Value Datasets (HVDs) to be laid down in an Implementing Act.
• Prevention of data lock-in, exclusive arrangements discouraged.
• Re-use of data held by public undertakings such as public utilities and transport providers.

EU Open Data and re-use of Public Sector information Directive (EU) 2019/1024

The EU recognizes the huge importance of high-value datasets and is mandating their publication by all EU Member States under an open license.

The EC has classified six categories of open data as high-value datasets:

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• Statistics
• Earth observation and environment
• Meteorological
• Geospatial
• Companies and company ownership
• Mobility

EU Member States must make these available free-of-charge by June 2024.

3. Ireland’s Strategic Response�

Progressing Ireland through partnerships

Third Wave of Open Data

Primer 1: Creating and Empowering (Chief) Data Stewards

Primer 2: Fostering and Distributing Institutional Data Capacity

Primer 3: Articulating Value and Building an Impact Evidence Base

Primer 4: Supporting New Data Intermediaries

Primer 5: Establishing Governance Frameworks

Primer 6: Creating the Technical Infrastructure for Re-use

Primer 7: Fostering Public Data Competence

Primer 8: Tracking, Monitoring, and Clarifying Decision and Data Provenance

Establishment of the Data Officers Network

Range of eLearning resources available

Case studies, Hale & Hearty POC

Commitment to EU Data Governance Act

Open Data & Data Governance Boards

Data.gov.ie portal/Data Rooms

eLearning available to public also, particpation

Strong governance includes innovation committee

Thanks