Ireland Must Move Fast To Become E-Commerce Hub

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

06 March 2002

According to the Advisory Committee on Information and Communications Technology, Ireland will need to implement a new regulatory regime if it is to develop its reputation as an e-commerce hub.

The Committee, which is comprised of various international experts, and headed by former Eircom Chairman, Brian Thompson, recommended that in order to counteract Eircom's delays in 'unbundling the local loop', or getting broadband access and other necessary telecommunications services out to the wider public, a new utility or wholesaler should be created to lease facilities from the country's largest telecommunications company and sell them on to businesses based in Ireland.

However, the Advisory Committee, which was asked by Public Enterprise Minister Mary O'Rourke to formulate a strategy for repositioning the jurisdiction as a global centre for business, has warned that the Government needs to act fast, as the country has fallen from 4th to 11th place in the World Economic Forum's Growth Competitiveness rankings, and now ranks third to last in terms of OECD broadband penetration.

Mr Thompson suggested that the Government could act as a catalyst in the formation of public/private e-commerce development partnerships, and also recommended the creation of a managed revolving loan fund to assist in the rollout of broadband services to the small business and residential audience.

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