Lessons from Ireland

Abstract

This book has been a journey through culture and history as it considered the ways in which the Irish context has influenced the emergence of its information economy. Throughout the journey, impacts were also noted. This Chapter assesses the information economy that has resulted from Ireland’s industrial plan. It considers the fit between Ireland’s information economy and the country’s socio-cultural characteristics. Finally, it considers challenges for Ireland’s information economy in the future.

And one of the few products, which can be shipped without using the ferry, is information. If it’s a small amount, it can be electronically transmitted. If it’s a large amount a small tape on tomorrow morning’s jumbo out to New York will carry the entire records of an American insurance company for a week. It would fit in a briefcase, without costing a thought. We have several advantages which I’ve mentioned several times, I think. The main one we have is our education and our ability to speak English. And — funny — ex-colonial advantages as well. The reason that the whole information services center, if you like, is viable, is that Dublin’s stock exchange always was and still is a branch of the London stock exchange. So that relationship didn’t have to be created. It was there. It took 70 years for somebody to think of hanging something onto it, to make it more useful to us than it had been to date. But it’s something that has always been. Perhaps, if you like, we’re only now getting around to using our talents. [Colm]