Ahead of his keynote at the Dargan Forum Seán Tobin, growth manager with Ireland’s national domain registry IE on how Ireland’s SMEs can triumph in the green and digital transition.
Taking place on 24 and 25 June in Dun Laoghaire, the annual Dargan Forum will bring together national and international experts to tackle Ireland’s most pressing challenges related to climate action, technological change, and economic uncertainty.
Among the speakers at this year’s forum is Seán Tobin, growth manager with Ireland’s national domain registry IE.
“Small, practical actions taken consistently can deliver meaningful long-term economic results”
As the trusted national registry for over 340,000 domain names, .IE protects Ireland’s unique online identity and empowers people, communities and businesses connected with Ireland to thrive and prosper online.
What’s the biggest barrier stopping sustainability strategies delivering real economic results, and how do we fix it?
The biggest barriers are often time, skills and competing priorities. For many businesses, particularly SMEs, sustainability isn’t a lack of ambition, it’s a challenge of capacity. Owners are focused on running their businesses day-to-day while also trying to respond to rapid technological change and evolving sustainability expectations.
The good news is that Ireland has a growing ecosystem of supports, advice and funding available. The next step is making those supports easier to navigate and encouraging businesses to see sustainability not as a compliance exercise, but as an opportunity to become more efficient, more competitive, and more resilient.
Small, practical actions taken consistently can deliver meaningful long-term economic results.
Are we thinking too defensively about resilience — and what would a more proactive, opportunity-led approach look like for Ireland?
Resilience starts with good defence, particularly in an environment where cyber threats have become increasingly sophisticated and organised. Businesses need to continue investing in strong cyber security practices and protecting their critical systems.
But resilience should also be viewed as an opportunity rather than simply a defensive exercise. Organisations that build digital trust through secure infrastructure, transparent practices and trusted online services strengthen customer confidence and create a competitive advantage. A proactive approach means embedding resilience into everyday business decisions so that security, trust and innovation become enablers of growth rather than barriers to it.
When it comes to translating green and digital strategies into economic growth and regional wealth, who risks being left behind in the twin transition, and what needs to happen now to ensure the gains are shared?
The greatest risk is not limited to one sector or one region—it is that businesses and communities without the time, resources or confidence to embrace change could fall behind as digital and sustainability expectations continue to evolve.
The focus should therefore be on making the transition practical, accessible and inclusive. That means investing in digital skills, trusted infrastructure and straightforward supports that help organisations take the next step, regardless of where they are on their journey.
Financial institutions such as Bank of Ireland have an important role to play by providing not only access to finance but also practical guidance, partnerships and programmes that give SMEs the confidence to invest in innovation, sustainability and long-term growth.
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