Microsoft disses the Irish Government. Again.

c0y0te

I just picked this up from the sunday business post..

Thought it might be of interest. In particular (for our lobby working group) the reference to the other lobby group (ICT) which Kevin Dillon chairs. Should be worth getting in touch with this guy lads...if we have not already done so.

c0y0te

_____________________________________________-

Microsoft chief hits out at state of IT policy

By Gavin Daly, Technology Editor
Dublin, Ireland, 13 January, 2002


The head of Microsoft in Ireland has accused the government of losing sight of high-tech issues and delaying progress on broadband and other technologies.


Kevin Dillon, the general manager of Microsoft's European operations centre in Dublin, criticised the government's IT policies as being particularly unsatisfactory in the last two years.

In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Business Post, Dillon said a lack of progress on physical and technical infrastructure was threatening Ireland's competitiveness. "The government has a logical plan to try and deploy new jobs to the regions, but neither the physical nor IT infrastructure are in place, so that strategy cannot succeed."

Dillon, who is also chairman of an Ibec lobby group, ICT [Information Communications and Technology] Ireland, said he would award the government just five out of ten for its performance on technology issues in the last two years.

"Given how much high-tech business Ireland has attracted, I would have to give the government seven out of ten over a five-year period.

"But in the shorter term -- the last two years -- I would have to score it lower because the infrastructural challenges have caught up with us and that has caused problems," he said.

Dillon said the government had created a "business-friendly climate" but had failed to keep up with essential technical developments.

"The delays in solving some of the regulatory issues and deploying broadband are unnecessarily slow and damaging to the economy.

"A lot has to be done and 2002 will be a critical year to move forward on infrastructural issues," he said.

"Everybody realises that catching up on physical infrastructure such as roads is never going to be an overnight process and takes years of planning and funds.IT infra-structure comes with a price tag but can be done comparatively quickly."

While Dillon welcomed the reduction in employer's PRSI in last month's budget, he said the reintroduction of the 21 per cent Vat rate was a step back for the tech sector.

"Ireland as an e-commerce hub will be detrimentally affected because its Vat rate is much higher than competing partners in the EU."

dahamsta

ENN: In an interview with [The Sunday Business Post] Kevin Dillon, general manager of Microsoft's European Operations Centre in Dublin, accused the government of delaying progress on broadband and other technologies. He claims that lack of progress on new technologies is eroding Ireland's competitiveness.

The Post.ie: Dillon said a lack of progress on physical and technical infrastructure was threatening Ireland's competitiveness. "The government has a logical plan to try and deploy new jobs to the regions, but neither the physical nor IT infrastructure are in place, so that strategy cannot succeed." ... the government had created a "business-friendly climate" but had failed to keep up with essential technical developments. "The delays in solving some of the regulatory issues and deploying broadband are unnecessarily slow and damaging to the economy. "A lot has to be done and 2002 will be a critical year to move forward on infrastructural issues," he said. "Everybody realises that catching up on physical infrastructure such as roads is never going to be an overnight process and takes years of planning and funds.IT infra-structure comes with a price tag but can be done comparatively quickly."

dahamsta

Oops.

Bard

Originally posted by dahamsta
Oops.

eh- there were two threads about this Adam ... I merged 'em.

ando

good job microsoft , the government needs a kick in the arse.... and a big one at that

Manic

LOL you beat me to posting that post from The Post.ie dahamsta
I find The Post.ie to be a great source for current information on those sorth of topics.