Irish technology firms exhibiting at the CeBit technology exhibition in Hanover - the world's largest computer and communications technology trade fair - have secured major deals with several international IT players, according to the Minister of State for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs.

Mr Tom Kitt was in Hanover over the past two days to support the 19 Irish firms exhibiting and to help attract technology workers to Ireland, which he described as "an IT wonderland". "There will be good news coming out of CeBit this year. Ireland is now taken seriously in the technology world," said Mr Kitt.

Asked by a German reporter if there were any areas of Ireland like California's Silicon Valley, Mr Kitt replied: "The whole country is Silicon Valley."

Some 19 Irish companies, including Baltimore Technologies, Orbiscom and Cardbase Technologies have stands at CeBit.