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Web Summit quits Dublin

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  • #422
    kidneyfan
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,279 ✭✭✭kidneyfan


    So what was the story with the whiffy?

    Whiffy failed in 2013 and Web Summit got someone (not sure who) to do a first rate whiffy for free
    RDS said no free whiffy we make a margin
    Web summit could then have said - we'll give you the margin but didn't
    web summit went with RDS whiffy but chose cheapest option

    Is the bolded bit correct?


  • #423
    The Corinthian
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,777 ✭✭✭✭The Corinthian


    mhge wrote: »
    hence its success as this facilitated some good networking.
    Was it good? Define 'good' networking?


  • #424
    PARlance
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,073 ✭✭✭✭PARlance


    Tarzana2 wrote: »
    Well, if what you want is loads of drinking then maybe. And even then, I wouldn't be convinced.

    Generally wanted and enjoyed by many of the attendees of the conference. Most attendees are guys on a jolly and the Dublin pub scene plays a big part of it, in fact it is part of the Summit with the Night Summits or whatever term they use to describe the organised p*ss ups.

    If you're not convinced already, I will hardly change that but Dublin is fairly well known for being a handy place to find a pub or two.


  • #425
    PARlance
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,073 ✭✭✭✭PARlance


    smash wrote: »
    Something that Paddy hasn't factored in, is that Dublin hosts EU headquarters for the majority of the largest tech multinationals. These companies always had no problem sending a few staff members, but next year will the do it again given the huge extra costs that will be associated with travel and accommodation?

    I don't think "casual" local attendees will be half as plentiful as they were here. As you say, the pool is smaller and I'm not quite sure the Portuguese will stomach the €1,000 cost for a few TED talks. Money goes a lot further over there, so while it was seen as pricey over here, it will probably be seen as disgustingly excessive over there.


  • #426
    kidneyfan
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,279 ✭✭✭kidneyfan


    Guys please will someone please lay out what happened with the whiffy?


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  • #427
    CruelCoin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,465 ✭✭✭CruelCoin


    kidneyfan wrote: »
    Guys please will someone please lay out what happened with the whiffy?

    http://keenlykristin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/wifi-not-working.jpg


  • #428
    smash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,809 ✭✭✭✭smash


    The article in the Journal is interesting: http://www.thejournal.ie/web-summit-e-mails-2390609-Oct2015/

    Key dates:
    Friday August 21 2015 Cosgrave outlined to the Taoiseach’s Private Secretary Nick Reddy exactly what was being offered from other cities outside of Ireland.

    Monday Aug 24 2015 Cosgrave wrote to Reddy again to point out that he had not received a response.
    Monday Aug 24 2015 Reddy replied saying, “Paddy, have this and the document received on Friday. Will be back to you. Nick.”

    Tuesday Sept 01 2015 Cosgrave wrote again to say he had still not received a response.

    Tuesday Sept 03 2015 Reddy responded saying he was on a trade mission in France and would get back to him.
    Tuesday Sept 03 2015 Cosgrave wrote again stating, “I realise everyone across Government is very busy but we seem to be able to maintain daily calls with other governments at a ministerial level across Europe, both from large and small nations.”

    Thursday Sept 10 2015 Nick Reddy saying that the Taoiseach was “confident a sensible and effective plan” could be prepared for 2016 informed by arrangements for 2015.

    Thursday Sept 17 2015 Cosgrave replied by reiterating the need for a plan.

    Friday Sept 18 2015 Reddy responded to Cosgrave saying: “Got that and will revert.”

    Monday Sept 21 2015 Cosgrave then wrote to the Assistant General Secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach John Callinan explaining his concerns.
    Monday Sept 21 2015 Callinan replied with a draft framework for engagement.

    Tuesday Sept 22 2015 Cosgrave replied and described Callinan’s response as “misleading”.

    Wednesday Sept 23 Callinan responded to Cosgrave, saying: “By the time you sent me this email I had already been informed of the decision to move to Lisbon and that you would be announcing it with the Deputy PM of Portugal in Lisbon the following morning.”

    Then....

    He said he spoke to the Taoiseach by phone on Sept 21, adding, “The deal wasn't signed (with Lisbon) until Sept 23.”


  • #429
    Emmy Unsightly Spoon
    Posts: 24,816 ✭✭✭✭ Emmy Unsightly Spoon


    smash wrote: »
    The deal was done over the weekend after he sent his first email.

    http://www.rte.ie/radio/utils/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=9%3A20864203%3A83%3A15%2D10%2D2015%3A

    That's an error, the direct quote from RTÉ Radio says September 23rd. (Approx 7mins in)

    The journal have typed it wrong.


  • #430
    smash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,809 ✭✭✭✭smash


    Deleted User wrote: »
    http://www.rte.ie/radio/utils/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=9%3A20864203%3A83%3A15%2D10%2D2015%3A

    That's an error, the direct quote from RTÉ Radio says September 23rd. (Approx 7mins in)

    The journal have typed it wrong.

    I was thinking... But he still clearly showed his intentions by stating outright he was talking to other countries, on a couple of occasions.

    He's played a game of smoke and mirrors and passed the blame to Enda and crew in the hopes that he wont receive the backlash himself. There seems to be so many people who think the sun shines out of his arse and that the Web Summit was the biggest thing this country ever had. It's bizarre!

    Also, who to believe about the final dates? Callinan states on the 23rd that by the time he received the email on the 22nd he'd already heard that the deal was done.


  • #431
    Emmy Unsightly Spoon
    Posts: 24,816 ✭✭✭✭ Emmy Unsightly Spoon


    smash wrote: »
    I was thinking... But he still clearly showed his intentions by stating outright he was talking to other countries, on a couple of occasions.

    He's played a game of smoke and mirrors and passed the blame to Enda and crew in the hopes that he wont receive the backlash himself. There seems to be so many people who think the sun shines out of his arse and that the Web Summit was the biggest thing this country ever had. It's bizarre!

    I am no supporter of his nor do I like his exploitative tactics.

    However it is important not to paint the wrong picture (as the journal has accidentally* done) and which your post based on theirs also suggests.

    The timeline is a month out with regards to signing with Lisbon.


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  • #432
    smash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,809 ✭✭✭✭smash


    Deleted User wrote: »
    I am no supporter of his nor do I like his exploitative tactics.

    However it is important not to paint the wrong picture (as the journal has accidentally* done) and which your post based on theirs also suggests.

    The timeline is a month out with regards to signing with Lisbon.
    I've edited my post to correct it.


  • #433
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 55,122 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Wompa1 wrote: »
    The Web Summit doesn't seem to be a very technical conference. It doesn't seem like something one would go to learn. To me as an outsider who has never been to it, just looking at the list of the speakers and topics. It came across as a circle jerk.

    Something like that will have limited appeal. Easily replaced by the next flavor of the month.

    It's a business conference, not a tech conference.

    It calls itself a tech conference because that's easier to market.


  • #434
    kidneyfan
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,279 ✭✭✭kidneyfan


    What was the story with the Wifi. Does anyone know the real story.


  • #435
    smash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,809 ✭✭✭✭smash


    kidneyfan wrote: »
    What was the story with the Wifi. Does anyone know the real story.

    As far as I'm aware, the story still stands that there's existing infrastructure and he was given a few options and he selected the cheaper one even though he was advised against it. Which leaves a conclusion that what he wanted the government to do with the RDS, is pretty much what he wanted them to do with hotels and force a cheaper rate.

    Open to correction...


  • #436
    CatFromHue
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,341 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    kidneyfan wrote: »
    What was the story with the Wifi. Does anyone know the real story.

    He gave out publicly about it not being up to standard last year but then is giving out about the cost of getting it up to standard, then wants the govt to fix the problem.

    In his own words
    the costs of hotels and wifi in particular have become highly uncompetitive as compared to elsewhere in Europe, and this year have risen more than ever before. Furthermore, the facilities in the RDS require such significant additional build by us that the true costs of the venue are substantially greater than elsewhere in Europe where state of the art facilities are standard.
    Wifi: Finally, the RDS are blocking a simple wifi solution in the RDS. They need to understand that putting up barriers that increase the cost to over €1 million this coming year, when it's free and reliable in other cities, just adds significantly to the pressures forcing us out of Dublin.
    But we don’t want to go to another city. We want to stay in Dublin far into the future. We don't want a penny, we just need even the
    most basic traffic flow management plan and resolution to the wifi situation in the RDS. We can’t make that plan. Only you can.


  • #437
    kidneyfan
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,279 ✭✭✭kidneyfan


    What does he mean by wifi is free and reliable in other cities? Dublin doesn't have free citywide wifi. Was his expectation that the RDS would upgrade its wifi for his conference?


  • #438
    CatFromHue
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,341 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    I don't know what he means, I think he's dug himself into a big hole on the wifi and sounded like he was telling some porkies about it when he was on Matt Cooper last week.


  • #439
    smash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,809 ✭✭✭✭smash


    We don't want a penny
    Lies
    we just need even the most basic traffic flow management plan
    He was getting a basic plan, and a whole lot more...
    and resolution to the wifi situation in the RDS.
    He was offered a resolution. It was going to cost 1m but he didn't want to pay it.


  • #440
    My name is URL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,290 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    smash wrote: »
    He was getting a basic plan, and a whole lot more...

    Didn't he ask/demand that attendees were given garda escorts at one stage?

    That's hardly basic in terms of traffic management!

    This is just hilarious at this stage. It's always been apparent that the guy is up his own hole but he's that far up it that he's in orbit at the same time.


  • #441
    strandroad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,676 ✭✭✭strandroad


    kidneyfan wrote: »
    What does he mean by wifi is free and reliable in other cities? Dublin doesn't have free citywide wifi. Was his expectation that the RDS would upgrade its wifi for his conference?

    He probably meant that other venues like the Lisbon one offer wifi included in their booking costs, or that the cities fund it as part of their bid.

    He was not complaining about wifi quality, but its cost - for a solid package he would have to pay more than double, so he went for a basic package and lost that bet.

    Now he just wanted someone to fund this solid package for them, like their other asks.


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  • #442
    jobbridge4life
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,759 ✭✭✭jobbridge4life


    mhge wrote: »
    He probably meant that other venues like the Lisbon one offer wifi included in their booking costs, or that the cities fund it as part of their bid.

    He was not complaining about wifi quality, but its cost - for a solid package he would have to pay more than double, so he went for a basic package and lost that bet.

    Now he just wanted someone to fund this solid package for them, like their other asks.

    So he wanted the tax-payer to fund his business venture?


  • #443
    strandroad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,676 ✭✭✭strandroad


    jobbridge4life wrote: »
    So he wanted the tax-payer to fund his business venture?

    Pretty much, yes (read the list of asks and bid requirements). Apparently other countries' taxpayers are lining up so what do we know.


  • #444
    wes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,749 ✭✭✭✭wes


    The government were largely right in this one (well except perhaps they should have told him to talk to the relevant parties instead). The "asks" were basically a request for corporate welfare imho. If Lisbon are foolish enough to let the tax payers foot the bill for a private venture, then they can have at it.


  • #445
    smash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,809 ✭✭✭✭smash


    My name is URL wrote: »
    Didn't he ask/demand that attendees were given garda escorts at one stage?

    That's hardly basic in terms of traffic management!

    This is just hilarious at this stage. It's always been apparent that the guy is up his own hole but he's that far up it that he's in orbit at the same time.

    It goes to show the level of self entitlement when Garda escorts are considered a basic form of traffic control.


  • #446
    flouncer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 681 ✭✭✭flouncer


    My good friend enda opened our cycleway from Mullingar to athlone on Sunday. Happened to be in athlone today and it hasn't just reached there yet. We will wait to reach mayo just yet:-)


  • #447
    Muahahaha
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,771 ✭✭✭✭Muahahaha


    How come no one ever seems to mention that Dublin, like Lisbon, is a small capital city and that we need to compete for events like these?

    Like Lisbon is throwing up e100 per conference attendee because the Mayor knows the lowest spend per attendee is approx e1,500 and a lot more for other attendees taking exhibition space at the event, the taxes from which more than cover the initial 100 euro subsidy.

    Is this not business sense to pay the 100e subsidy to get lots more in tax? Would people posting here prefer that tax goes to the Portugese govt rather than our own? Lisbons gain is very much our loss on this debacle. Our Govt tells us that they're pro-business but the Portugese Govt backs it up with actions.


  • #448
    Sofiztikated
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,995 ✭✭✭Sofiztikated


    Muahahaha wrote: »
    How come no one ever seems to mention that Dublin, like Lisbon, is a small capital city and that we need to compete for events like these?

    Like Lisbon is throwing up e100 per conference attendee because the Mayor knows the lowest spend per attendee is approx e1,500 and a lot more for other attendees taking exhibition space at the event, the taxes from which more than cover the initial 100 euro subsidy.

    Is this not business sense to pay the 100e subsidy to get lots more in tax? Would people posting here prefer that tax goes to the Portugese govt rather than our own? Lisbons gain is very much our loss on this debacle. Our Govt tells us that they're pro-business but the Portugese Govt backs it up with actions.

    Have you seen what he was asking for? Expenditure and interference would cost more than what the tax take would have been.


  • #449
    flouncer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 681 ✭✭✭flouncer


    Muahahaha wrote: »
    How come no one ever seems to mention that Dublin, like Lisbon, is a small capital city and that we need to compete for events like these?

    Like Lisbon is throwing up e100 per conference attendee because the Mayor knows the lowest spend per attendee is approx e1,500 and a lot more for other attendees taking exhibition space at the event, the taxes from which more than cover the initial 100 euro subsidy.

    Is this not business sense to pay the 100e subsidy to get lots more in tax? Would people posting here prefer that tax goes to the Portugese govt rather than our own? Lisbons gain is very much our loss on this debacle. Our Govt tells us that they're pro-business but the Portugese Govt backs it up with actions.

    Forgetting what paddy was asking for. I have attended. Its really waffle. Ended up talking to a dude from Waterford county council wondering wtf. In terms of filling hotel rooms, that is correct. In terms of filling us with wiseness (is there such a word) give me a rest. Facebook bought a messaging system for (was it) 29 billion. These guys earn money and then prove how hopeless they are. And paddy gives them a stage. Class act


  • #450
    5rtytry56
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,828 ✭✭✭5rtytry56


    flouncer wrote: »
    My good friend enda opened our cycleway from Mullingar to athlone on Sunday. Happened to be in athlone today and it hasn't just reached there yet. We will wait to reach mayo just yet:-)
    Enda's no ordinary flouncer either

    http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/kenny-is-confident-fine-gael-can-achieve-success-in-mayo-1.2398074

    :rolleyes::)


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  • #451
    smash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,809 ✭✭✭✭smash


    Muahahaha wrote: »
    Like Lisbon is throwing up e100 per conference attendee because the Mayor knows the lowest spend per attendee is approx e1,500 and a lot more for other attendees taking exhibition space at the event, the taxes from which more than cover the initial 100 euro subsidy.

    Is this not business sense to pay the 100e subsidy to get lots more in tax? Would people posting here prefer that tax goes to the Portugese govt rather than our own? Lisbons gain is very much our loss on this debacle. Our Govt tells us that they're pro-business but the Portugese Govt backs it up with actions.

    You're factoring in the cost of the ticket here, which is money that won't go to the Portuguese government as Web Summit is an Irish company. The revenue from flights wont go to the Portuguese government either. The only revenue they'll make from it is from hotels, public transport and food/drink.

    Now Paddy wanted the Irish government to cover the costs of transport in full, and then force hotels to cut their prices. Given these facts, I can't at all see how it could bring in 108m to Ireland, and I can't see it bringing it in for Lisbon either.


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