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I R E L A N D

A vision for ICT Ireland

Providing leadership for the information
and communications technology sector
2006-2009

A sector within IBEC | the Irish Business and Employers Confederation

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I R E L A N D

O R G A N I S A T I O N
 As we address the challenge of creating a knowledge economy we must face the
fact that this can only exist within a knowledge society – one which has ICT at its
very core. The goal must be one where every citizen is comfortable with using the

Chairman’s latest information and communications technologies as part of their everyday lives.

The importance of ICT to the ongoing success and growth of the Irish economy is

statement almost incalculable. The ICT sector itself is a major employer and significant
contributor to the economy, with over 100,000 people employed in over 1,300
companies.

ICT Ireland provides a powerful, unified voice for

the sector to address these challenges together.
Since 2001, ICT Ireland has been working
vigorously on the diverse range of complex issues
which the sector faces, representing its interests to
government and state agencies, and providing
services to members.

Kathryn Raleigh Michael Daly, Ireland remains a great location for the ICT sector thanks mainly to the
Director Chairman Government's commitment to low taxation and to building a business-friendly
ICT Ireland ICT Ireland
environment. The skills, flexibility and innovation of the individuals who work in the
sector and Ireland's ability to attract young, skilled workers from other countries are
other key factors that have worked in our favour through the recent years of
extraordinary growth. If we are to sustain the growth of the sector here in Ireland
we must build on our already considerable strengths, and seek to maintain and
develop our global position in ICT. This is ICT Ireland’s vision for the future of the
sector.

In order to provide direction, and maintain the momentum of our activities, ICT
Ireland has developed the following strategic vision. This document clearly sets out
ICT Ireland’s vision and mission from 2006-2009. Each of our strategic imperatives
are accompanied by measures of success, so that we can monitor the implementa-
tion of our strategy and ensure that our vision becomes a reality.

The strategic vision was developed following wide consultation with the sector, and
we extend our thanks to all those who participated in the process. It is the
participation of our members across the sector which has formed this strategic
vision, and their continued participation which will ensure the realisation of its
goals and objectives.
Michael Daly, Country General Manager IBM,
Chairman ICT Ireland
A vision for ICT Ireland |1
 The vision of ICT Ireland has the vision of ensuring that
ICT Ireland is Ireland retains and extends a global
leadership role in information and
communications technology.

Our mission is to ■ Raise awareness of the importance of the

information and communications
technology (ICT) sector to the Irish
economy in all sections of society.

■ Ensure that Ireland is an attractive location

for ICT investment by both foreign and
indigenous companies.

■ Promote an environment that encourages

innovation.

■ Develop links between the component

parts of the ICT industry in Ireland, both
indigenous and foreign owned.

Vision
and mission

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That the Government, agencies and the

1 public see the ICT industry as one of the

most important sectors in Ireland.

That Ireland has the skills necessary for a

2 vibrant and sustainable ICT sector.

That Ireland is regarded as a competitive

3 location for ICT, both domestically and

internationally.

That Ireland becomes a very attractive

4 place in which to undertake research and

development.

That Ireland becomes a genuinely

5 recognised knowledge and e-enabled

economy.

That the ICT sector in Ireland improves its

What are the 6 access to, and interaction with, the final
customer through sales and marketing

strategic expertise.

imperatives for
the ICT Ireland
Vision?
A vision for ICT Ireland |3
1 Strategic actions ■ Develop a core message that can be used as
a communication template.
■ Liaise and work with relevant parties in the
Government and state agencies to promote
the positive aspects of the ICT sector and to

That the outline key issues.

■ Foster relationships with key technology
journalists to ensure they have easy access

Government, to spokespeople in ICT Ireland.

agencies and Measures of success ■ Ongoing dialogue with government

ministers and officials.

the public see the ■ Successful proactive intervention on key

strategic issues for the sector.
■ Ongoing dialogue and joint ventures with

ICT industry as agencies on identified key issues.

■ Coherent communication from the ICT

one of the most sector.

important sectors
in Ireland

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2 Strategic actions ■ Promote ICT as a career choice.

■ Formulate advocacy programmes to
I R E L A N D

encourage more students to take up

ICT-related subjects.

That Ireland ■ Develop policy on ICT and education.

■ Develop relationships with the Department
of Education and co-operate on the

has the skills formulation of policy on ICT usage in the

classroom as an educational tool.
■ Establish links with guidance counsellors.
necessary for ■ Identify shortfalls in the supply of Irish
graduates and alternative sources of skills.

a vibrant and Measures of success ■ An increase in the numbers choosing a

sustainable career in the ICT sector.

■ An increase in the numbers of students

ICT sector taking ICT-related subjects in junior and

senior cycles in schools (ie. maths, physics,
chemistry).
■ Greater numbers choosing engineering and
science-related subjects at third and
post-graduate level.
■ Increased use of ICT in the classroom.
■ An improvement in the grades achieved by
students in ICT-related subjects/courses at
second and third level.
■ An immigration policy attuned to the skills
requirements of industry within the sector.

A vision for ICT Ireland |5

3 Strategic actions ■ Lobby the Government and regulators on
competitive issues, such as energy and wage
costs.
■ Lobby the Government to ensure that the Irish
tax regime remains competitive for both
foreign-direct investment (FDI) and the
indigenous sector.
■ Track the development of new EU and Irish
regulations and their impact on the ICT sector.
■ Develop marketing materials (with the IDA) to
promote Ireland as a location of choice for
new or further investment by foreign-owned
ICT companies.
■ Work with the Revenue Commissioners to
ensure that Ireland has an effective trade
policy for exporting companies.
■ Develop strategic policies in relation to
creating scale in the indigenous ICT sector
with the Irish Software Association.

That Ireland is Measures of success ■ Ireland remains one of the key global locations
for mobile foreign-direct investment (FDI).

regarded as a ■ Costs in Ireland (energy, environment, wages

etc) become either more competitive than, or
comparable with, those in other locations.

competitive ■ Continued investment by ICT companies in

their operations in Ireland.
■ The continuation in Ireland of a favourable tax
location for ICT, regime for business.
■ The indigenous sector develops scale and

both domestically competes globally.

■ Continued strategic development of the ICT
manufacturing base in Ireland.

and internationally ■ A transparent and predictable trade regime to

assist ICT exports from Ireland.

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4 Strategic actions ■ Lobby Government and state agencies to

ensure that there is a national focus on
I R E L A N D

applied R&D
■ Work with state agencies and the Revenue
Commissioners to develop greater suite of
supports for companies investing in R&D in
Ireland
■ Develop specific actions to encourage
greater commercialisation of research
■ Address the ‘cultural disconnect’ between
industry and academia
■ Lobby the European Commission to ensure
that there is greater access to EU
Framework funding.

Measures of success ■ A national focus on applied research/

technology and the commercialisation
thereof.
■ Increased investment by ICT companies in

That Ireland becomes R&D in Ireland.

■ An increase in the number of researchers in
the sector.

a very attractive ■ The development of an excellent working

relationship between the ICT and third-level
sectors.

place in which to ■ An increase in the successful applications

under EU Framework programmes.

undertake research
and development
A vision for ICT Ireland |7
5 Strategic actions ■ Examine incentives in other markets, which
encourage greater uptake of technology in
the home.
■ Work with all key stakeholders to introduce
such incentives.
■ Co-operate with the Government to expand
on-line public services.
■ Develop relationships with the Department
of Finance in the area of public procure-
ment policies.
■ Incorporate the EU policy on the
information society ‘i2010 - A European
information society for growth and
employment’ into Irish Government policy.

Measures of success ■ Increased uptake of ICT technology in the

That Ireland home.

■ Greater public availability of on-line
services.

becomes a ■ The emergence of an efficient public

procurement and e-procurement policy and

genuinely practice.
■ Successful incorporation of the i2010
strategy into Government policy.

recognised
knowledge
and e-enabled
economy
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6 Strategic actions ■ Co-operate with relevant state agencies

to develop a greater suite of supports for
I R E L A N D

companies investing in sales and marketing

in Ireland.
■ Collaborate with the education sector to
encourage a greater focus on sales and
marketing capabilities in engineering and
technology courses.

Measures of success ■ Increased development of sales and

marketing by ICT companies within their
Irish operations, reflecting a more general
improvement in expertise in this area.
■ Improved links between foreign-owned ICT
companies and the indigenous ICT sector.

That the ICT sector

in Ireland improves
its access to, and
interaction with, the
final customer
through sales and
marketing expertise
A vision for ICT Ireland |9
 Member ■ Audio Visual Federation
TELEPHONE + 353-1-605 1528
www.ibec.ie/avf

associations ■ Consumer Electronics Distributors

Association
TELEPHONE + 353-1-605 1653
www.ibec.ie/ceda

■ Irish Cellular Industries Association

TELEPHONE + 353-1-605 1604
www.icia.ie

■ Irish Software Association

TELEPHONE + 353-1-605 1582
www.software.ie

■ Telecoms and Internet Federation

TELEPHONE +353-1-605 1528
www.tif.ie

■ White Goods Association

TELEPHONE +353 1 605 1656
www.ibec.ie/wga

10 | A vision for ICT Ireland

ICT Ireland-
Membership of ICT Ireland enables companies to be
better informed, better represented and better pre-
pared to meet the challenges of today's marketplace.

how to join Members of ICT Ireland benefit from:

■ An effective, unified voice to Government on
issues relevant to the ICT sector, such as
competitiveness, education and skills, HR issues,
environment, taxation, trade, sales and marketing,
communications and the information society.
■ Member only meetings, briefings, surveys and
workshops on issues relevant to the ICT sector.
■ A committed executive staff who are constantly
working to further the interests and raise the
profile of the ICT industry.

As an ICT Ireland member, you will also benefit from

comprehensive membership of IBEC. IBEC services to
members include:
■ A designated member of IBEC’s human resources
team to advise on all HR matters.
■ Access to IBEC’s employee relations and
information unit for all employee relations
information.
■ Specialist labour lawyers to advise you on all
areas of employment law.
■ Surveys, economic trends and forecasts and
up-to-the-minute information on regulatory
issues and EU legislation.

Membership of ICT Ireland is open to all companies

in the information, communications and technology
sector. If you would like further details on the service
we could offer your company please see our website
www.ictireland.ie.

A vision for ICT Ireland | 11

 ICT Ireland Kathryn Raleigh, Director
TELEPHONE
FAX
+ 353-1-605 1569
+ 353-1-638 1569

executive EMAIL kathryn.raleigh@ictireland.ie

Hannah Grene, Executive

TELEPHONE + 353-1-605 1610
FAX + 353-1-638 1610
EMAIL hannah.grene@ictireland.ie

Ann Hare, Executive Assistant

TELEPHONE + 353-1-605 1527
FAX + 353-1-638 1527
EMAIL ann.hare@ictireland.ie

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I R E L A N D

Leadership in Information and Communications Technology

ICT IRELAND

A sector within IBEC | the Irish Business and Employers Confederation

Confederation House 84/86 Lower Baggot Street Dublin 2

Telephone + 353-1-605 1527 Fax + 353-1-638 1527

email info@ictireland.ie

www.ictireland.ie
 I C T
I R E L A N D

Leadership in Information and Communications Technology

ICT IRELAND

A sector within IBEC | the Irish Business and Employers Confederation

Confederation House 84/86 Lower Baggot Street Dublin 2

Telephone + 353-1-605 1527 Fax + 353-1-638 1527

email info@ictireland.ie

www.ictireland.ie