Emer Costello, the lord mayor of the city, addressed delegates at the Spirit of Ireland Awards in San Jose California this week.

She said: “We can green our communities and public services to achieve efficiency and reduce cost, but also securing a more sustainable future.

“We can be smarter in how we apply technology in business, in public services, in the home, the school, the hospital and community.

“By being smart in how we do things we can be more efficient, pool expertise and knowledge, and create more time in a busy world for people to be with family and one another.”

Luke Walsh

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