On Friday 24 September Irish Ministerial and EU leaders have joined transport professionals from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in Cork for the public launch of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Ireland at its inaugural conference sponsored by Siemens.
The new public-private partnership will give Ireland for the first time a national voice in the global transport technology industry.
Minister for Enterprise Trade and Innovation Batt O’Keeffe TD highlighted the national and export importance of ITS in the Irish economy.
From Brussels Magda Kopczynska Head of the EU’s Clean Transport Unit (DG MOVE) outlined key messages from the EU’s July 2010 Directive on a framework for ITS deployment in road transport.
A representative from the Department of Transport emphasised the important role of ITS in facilitating safer more efficient and more sustainable travel and transport.
In a further European-level contribution Ian Winning from Cork City Council updated delegates on the city’s plans for a Travel Information Centre due for full implementation on Smarter Travel in 2011. The scheme is enjoying support from the EU’s New and Innovative Concepts for Helping European transport Sustainability (NICHES+) programme in which Cork is a partner.
Also giving presentations are the National Roads Authority Dublin City Council AA Ireland and ITS specialist companies IBM Transtoll ESB eCars Parkmagic and Integrated Traffic Services. Brian Maxwell of the Northern Ireland Roads Service will update delegates on ITS deployments in Northern Ireland.
Coinciding with its inaugural conference held in Cork on September 24th ITS Ireland has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ITS United Kingdom in establishing a bilateral relationship and to develop cooperation in important matters pertaining to ITS research planning and deployment between the two countries.
Particular attention will be given to improving membership value and promoting research educational and commercial cooperation between the parties.
For more information please visit: http://www.itsireland.ie
Link to original Article
http://www.ertico.com/its-ireland-launched/
Original Publication Date: Tue 05 Oct 2010
