what is International Relations trying to do in a city like Dublin. Can it make a difference. Local Government has a role. Digital technology & smart cities provide a focus. Economic development is key but needs cultural and educational development as well. Local can only exist if it can engage in the global. Mexico, USA, UK, Russia and China are but a few of the targeted locations.

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AsDirectorofInternationalRelationswithDublinCityCouncil,PeterFinnegan
talkstoJimmyGeogheganaboutthekeystrategiesinplacetopromoteeconomic
growthinthecity.
Unlocking Dublin’s Potential
I
f there is one thing Peter Finnegan
knows about it’s what his adopted
city – Dublin - has to offer to the
outside world. Originally from
County Down, Finnegan is the
Director of International Relations with
Dublin City Council (DCC). In that role he
spends much of his time talking to people
from around the globe about dear old Dublin;
highlighting the virtues of a city that has
become a true, cosmopolitan melting pot.
For this Mourne county man it’s about
getting the message out there that Dublin is
a great place not only to do business in but
to live in, work in, learn in – and visit for a
vacation. It is a message and a mission he sees
as fundamental to the leadership role of Local
Government today.
“Local Government must play a key
leadership role in enabling economic and
social development,” observes Finnegan.
“ Cities are increasingly the powerhouses
of economies and the forges where new
ideas that shape society are tested.These
realities are global and international
relations promotes Dublin and fosters the
relationships that attract investment, people
and opportunities to Dublin”.
In late February Finnegan attended
the Northern Powerhouse Conference in
Manchester where, in his speaking slot, he
focused on selling Dublin to the 800 business
leaders from across the UK. “Our primary
job is to handle Dublin’s relationship with
the world,” he explains. “We are a small
city in a small country in a big world so any
opportunity we have to promote ourselves
internationally must be used. We cannot take
for granted that the world has heard of us.”
There can be no relaxation when it comes
to showing the world what they are missing by
NOT moving to a city that was after all founded
by a group of adventurous foreigners who arrived
in Dublin Bay,put down roots and said:‘This is
where we want to stay’– the Vikings.
It’s the same as selling any message:
it’s about creative imagination in terms of
presentation and combining that with a quality
that is as old as the medieval city itself – hard
graft. Dublin – and by extension Ireland - he
adds, cannot afford to be complacent when it
comes to highlighting the qualities that make
it vibrant, attractive, different.
Finnegan stresses the importance of the
Lord Mayor as an Ambassador for Ireland’s
capital. “ The Lord Mayor, by virtue of his/her
office, opens doors around the world. A City
Mission led by the Lord Mayor can prove
valuable in opening up opportunities for
businesses and universities who travel with
that Mission.”
The work of Dublin’s International
Office, he points out, has a number of
dimensions. Firstly through bi-lateral city to
city relationships and through City Missions
it facilitates connections between Dublin
business, higher education and cultural
organizations and the world. Secondly it helps
bring the world to Dublin by supporting bids
for international business conferences and
events. Finnegan is adamant that attracting
business conferences to Dublin “ is more than
just about bed nights and spend.”
He adds: “The more we bring business
and education leaders to experience Dublin,
the more we lay the seeds for future
investment, for the attraction of mobile talent,
for R&D and for the attraction of students to
Dublin.”
Another dimension is to make sure
Dublin has a voice at International Fora.
“Dublin’s participation at International
Fora such as Innovation 2.0 or Eurocities
helps us contribute to and learn from policy
and practice around urban challenges and
solutions,” says Finnegan.
A key role for the International
Relations is to globalize Dublin’s brand.
“Dublin attracts because it has a reputation
for Innovation and R &D especially in the
technology arena. It attracts because it is
seen as young and fun, a city that has highly
educated and motivated workers from every
culture and language grouping on the globe.
Dublin’s people are it’s greatest strength and
the diversity and openness of the city and it’s
people are essential parts of brand Dublin,”
observes Finnegan.
“In addition we offer a rich cultural
experience and a location which allows you to
access mountain, countryside and sea in less
than an hour from the City Center.”
Finnegan repeats the mantra that
Governments don’t create jobs but they can
nurture the conditions and opportunities that
enable companies create jobs.
“The quality of life in a city, for example,
is very important and that’s where a city
council can have a direct effect. If we can
improve the “walkability,” the sustainability,
and promote and encourage all those things
that make civic space in the city positive,
welcoming and open then it becomes a more
attractive city.
“Dublin is seen as the number one city
in the European Union for starting new
businesses and Forbes have found it the first
when it comes to the ease of doing business
in,” he adds.
“It’s regarded as the first in the world in
skilled labour and it’s also a compact city, it’s
easy to get around”
To support his assertions he points to
the kind of companies who have arrived on
these shores to put down commercial roots
– PayPal, Google, Dropbox, Microsoft to
name just a few. Yet it’s not just about getting
companies in the door. It’s about helping
those already in Dublin to expand outwards.
“This year we will support Irish home
grown initiatives such as the Social Media
Summit, Medicon (aimed at Creative
Media & TV), Connect 16 ( selling Ireland
as a Conference Location) and the Tech
Summit.These events attract international
participation and attention, but they also
“We are a small city
in a small country
in a big world so any
opportunity we have
to promote ourselves
internationally must be
used. We cannot take
for granted that the
world has heard of us.”

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help local companies and start-ups to
grow by gaining access to investment, new
ideas, international partners and skills” says
Finnegan. He is justly proud of Dublin’s role
in establishing initiatives such as Innovation
2.0 with Intel and the EU Commission.
https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/open-
innovation-20.
But International Relations within
Dublin City Council is small in terms
of comparable international functions in
other EU capitals. “ We need to target our
activity and we do so by concentrating on
countries that can yield the greatest results.”
says Finnegan.Top of his short list are the
old reliables namely the United States and
Britain. “Dublin has a particularly valuable
relationship with San Jose, the capital of
Silicon Valley.This year, to mark the 1916
Centenary we are co-hosting in Dublin with
San Jose a gathering of all USA Cities that
have bi-lateral relations with Irish Cities and
Counties, “ Finnegan adds.
In addition, Dublin has committed itself
to developing relationships with Mexico City
and Guadalajara. “ In Mexico we have an
opportunity for building early opportunities
and partnerships with South America’s fastest
growing economy” says Finnegan.
“The relationship between Guadalajara,
Mexico’s Silicon Valley, San Jose and Dublin
will be important in the future growth
of R&D, student exchanges, and digital
start-ups.” Finnegan also emphasizes the
importance of “citizen diplomacy” especially
through cultural exchanges and tourism.
In addition, Dublin has opened up
relationships beyond Europe with China
(Beijing) and with Russia (Moscow and St.
Petersburg).
What is the key to success given the wide
canvass and limited resources?
“In my opinion delivering through
collaboration and partnership is the key, “
states Finnegan, “We collaborate with State
bodies such as Foreign Affairs and the Irish
Embassy network, with EI and IDA, with
the Dublin universities and with the private
sector through Dublin Chamber and the
British Irish Chamber for example.”
Finnegan is adamant that there’s a great
deal in the old Irish saying: “Ni neart go cur le
cheile – strength lies in working together.That
is the key to small cities in small countries
punching above their weight on the global
stage and remaining relevant and competitive.”
DCC’s International Relations will, for
example, work in partnership with Fáilte
Ireland’s Dublin Convention Bureau to
promote Dublin in Washington and New
York this May as a conference destination.
International Relations is about managing
and leading change through developing
relationships, building networks and realizing
opportunities. Finnegan’s working life has
involved managing change through people.
With a background in enterprise and job
creation, experience of policy and strategy
development and having provided leadership
change in the Telecoms industry - as well as
generated strategies for development on a
multi-agency basis in Local Government -
Finnegan understands that change happens
through strategically engineered projects
that transform attitudes and demonstrate the
benefits of change in people’s lives.
The work of International Relations, he
adds, has brought a new dimension to the
work of Local Government in Dublin. It has
strengthened and expanded the economic
development remit of the Council while also
enriching the cultural and social engagement
of Dublin with the world. From promoting
Dublin as a place for investment in Northern
England; to supporting conference bids for
Dublin; to representing Dublin in the EU
urban agenda the work of International
Relations is varied and focused.
It’s all part of selling Dublin; a town Peter
Finnegan has come to know and love so well.
“The more we bring
business and education
leaders to experience
Dublin, the more we
lay the seeds for future
investment, for the
attraction of mobile
talent, for R&D and
for the attraction of
students to Dublin.”
Dublin
Where the world meets...
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