Exciting ideas need a clear implementation strategy from Eamon Ryan.

Tuesday, 21 July 2009

We need a practical roadmap – not more working groups and expert panels to deliver on the promise of a Smart Economy.

The ideas underpinning the Government’s launch today of its technology document need to be matched by a practical roadmap setting out how these ideas can be achieved. .

While Fine Gael strongly supports a very ambitious approach to developing a new economy based on new information communications technologies (ICT), today’s announcement unfortunately lacked detail in terms of practical policy implementation to make the smart economy a reality.

I have no doubt that tens of thousands of jobs can be created in new digital and clean energy technologies so I am supportive of the thinking behind today’s launch. However, the Minister needs to do more than simply paint a picture of what can be achieved if Ireland were to become a hub for digital and green technology research.

Instead, it is his job to provide the detail of a credible roadmap to get us there. That’s what is missing from the Minister’s speech today.

Companies like ‘Intune’ and projects like ‘Workflow’ and ‘Smartbay’ are providing exciting new opportunities for employment in Ireland. The research at ‘Intune’, for example - which can dramatically improve the capacity of our IT network and infrastructure - can spark a new dawn for the Irish technology sector. However, the job of government, and in particular Minister Ryan, is to do more than tell a positive story. He must provide the market conditions through State policy to support and build the infrastructure needed to realise Ireland’s full potential.

People should not be fooled by a Minister talking the talk about ‘smart electricity networks’, ‘the internet of things’, ‘cloud computing’ and an ‘exemplar network’. Understanding these terms is one thing, but making them a reality is the Minister’s job.

As ever with this Minister, it’s hard to pin him down on the detail of his proposals and a timescale for implementation. We don’t need more stakeholders’ workshops and expert groups. What is need are decision makers and clear plans of action.

Fine Gael has published its plan of action to tackle Ireland’s IT infrastructure deficit and our approach to promoting green energy in our ‘Rebuilding Ireland’ document.