“I am concerned that some commentators overplay the so-called ‘broadband failure’ in Ireland. They risk unnecessarily damaging Ireland’s international reputation.”
(from Noel Dempsey’s speech ‘Our Future: Living and Learning with Technology’ at the broadband conference, Galway, 26th April 2006)
Yes you are. Not only are you showing the world that wew have poor broadband but also that cork as a county exists. We in the rest of the country have been trying to pretend that people who say boy and like and langer were mearly like the lepracans. 🙂
He went on to congratulate the town of Ennis on being the technological capital of the world. The speech was cut short, as Mr. Dempsey had a meeting with a Nigerian prince who was looking for someone to assist him with some money transfers.
Not at all: you’re embarrassing them into doing their job.
Not that you should have to though…
Broadband, embarrassing, sure, but did the commentators didn’t create the problem? No, they/you only illuminate it.
Now about that haircut…
😉
Guess if they did the job right in the first place he wouldn’t have to make speeches about certain commentators in certain areas. You think if everyone blogging in the country made a blog post about the poor spread of broadband in Ireland (maybe on a particular day…) that it would get enough global attention to make the government pick up the pace a bit?
Ridiculuous, basically he’s saying that because you’re pointing out that he’s incompetant, that you’re making things bad.
Chicken, meet egg…………
No, you’re not. Anyone expecting broadband in cork the last 2 days has been disappointed. You ar enhancing the view of millions of Americans who think Ireland is really a backward little counrty, full of donkeys and carts and lacking in things like electricity. You’re doing wonders for the traditional Irish “mad in china” craft shops all over Kerry. Keep it up.
No.
The lack of decent broadband infrastructure is damaging Ireland’s rep.
Politicians pretending there isn’t a problem is damaging Ireland’s rep.
People highlighting issues around broadband infrastructure are only highlighting that Ireland’s rep is being damaged. In simple words – the damage is already done before you ever get to highlight it. On the other hand, you’re agitating to get something done about it. So what is most damaging – inertia on the part of the politician whose brief it is to sort this out, or the activist who is trying to rectify it?
Seems like a no-brainer to me.
By the way The Donkey Sanctuary in Ireland could use some help 😉
What he should be doing is making you a liar by putting Ireland at the top of the OECD league of broadband connected countries.
His ostrich-like attitude is never going to achieve that, I fear.
Unbelievable. Next he’ll be calling you an “anti-globalist agitator”, like they did with the ICTE guys 😉
[…] A fellow blogger (Damien) is worrying Am I damaging Ireland’s international reputation? And while I believe he is not damaging it, I find that it is interesting that there is so much reaction. […]
[…] Damien Mulley is damaging Ireland’s international reputation according to Noel Dempsey – Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. I am concerned that some commentators overplay the so-called ‘broadband failure’ in Ireland. They risk unnecessarily damaging Ireland’s international reputation. […]
Is Noel taking a leaf out of Saddams old Minister of Information ‘Comical Alis’ book here?
“The Americans are not attacking”
“There are no broaband issues in Ireland … we’re great!”
Er, yeah.
Damien Mulley, you’re doing great work in raising the issues and I commend you for your energy and commitment.
Generally, I wouldnt depend on the Government to come with a viable solution to this issue. Business should drive this agenda.
Workable solutions should (and are) presented to the Government to gain their financial and other supports to improve the Broadband situation in Ireland.
I believe this is a market issue and not purely a fundamental infrastructure issue. It just takes time.
Woah, there’s a response. 15 comments! Donagh, I agree with you. The Government shouldn’t be throwing away 170m on taxpayers money to build rings around towns that don’t need them and then handing these unconnected rings over to a management company to make them work. The have some nerve saying these MANs are the solution to the problem. They should have helped fund some far better plans that private companies had, companies that knew the market and knew the best way forward. The Government could do far far more by making the telecoms environment healthy enough that companies can compete fairly. This means kicking the ass of the regulator and that doesn’t cost a penny. This was the main issue 5 years ago and is the main issue today.
Damien Mulley – Enemy of The State
Nice little tagline for the Blog
You would be, if Dempsey &co hadn’t got there before you.
Stick it to the man! (The GRA are . . .)
😉
Damien, Ireland is not a socialist state and bigger business is done out of the public eye. Ultimately big business drives the state with an underlying consciousness.
do turn on the ‘fluffy-comment’ filter
🙂
Anyone with a mind for smart business does not confine their research about a new place of business only to happy-clappy PR by the government. I think Noel Dempsey should prove his competence by limiting his sniping at commentators through a blog of his own. That way he could take on the mainstream media through a broadband connection. The Minister surely does know about this blogging thing, even though bloggers are responsible for only two of the first twenty references to “Noel Dempsey” on a Google search. I will pay for Minister Dempsey’s training at the Irish Blogging Academy.
[…] As Katy explains today, internet access in Ireland, notwithstanding the country’s role in the I.T. industry, is not what it is in the US. And that’s why Damien Mulley has been leading the charge against the pretence that broadband is available and growing in Ireland at a reasonable rate. […]