Cowen appoints economy taskforce

[anewbeginning]

Nor any sign of "new high speed broadband networks ". Instead we have a load of paid for by taxpayer useless (??) isolated fibre loops:

The whiz-bang technology that ended up dead in the ground - National News, Frontpage - Independent.ie

"Now in times of bust, it's staggering to look at the amount spent on these fibre rings, five of them built for €5.2m and dead in the ground. Not a single connection going through them."

AND an encumbant Telecomms company owned by a broke australian asset stripping (??) investment firm.

BUT hold on - all is not lost, looks like Wireless bband for us all thanks to Intel ( not the government ):

Sunday Business Post | Irish Business News

VIA WIMAX ( Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access ), a microwave based wireless technology!

Aidan

Looks like the government are about to spend 200 million on technology which is already obsolete before it's even laid. More madness...I doubt they will stop though...contracts and everything probably signed now, so they have to go ahead with it.

[SoldierofDestiny]

I agree with you that we need to revolutionise. Where I disagree with you is that FF are the right people to do this.

Look at their previous record on implementing smart economy schemes.

1. Integrated Ticketing on Dublin Transport
2. E-voting machines
3. P-Pars
4. Digital Hub

To name but a few.

They start off with great general ideas, but when it comes to the implementation, they haven't a clue. Perhaps it is the fault of the civil service, who knows, but the project management of these projects was very poor.

The design of the e-voting machines was appalling and unworkable. FF signed off on accepting these machines even though no-one asked the question was the design fit for purpose. A basic mistake that a graduate software developer would spot.

Anyone would think FF are new to government and are going to revolutionise the country. They have been in power 12 years and still we have third world broadband, no integrated ticketing, no e-voting, no p-pars. They couldn't get it right in the last 12 years, what makes anyone think they will do better in the next 5?

It's just more political guff from Cowan. They will throw hundreds of millions of our money at smart economy projects which may never work but which plays well with the electorate.

Mistakes have been made - our leaders will learn from them.

No point in harking on about the past - we can't change it now.. but we have learned from it.

[aidanodr]

Mistakes have been made - our leaders will learn from them.

No point in harking on about the past - we can't change it now.. but we have learned from it.

So where does the past stop and the present / future begin based on your statement?

Now ...

NOW ...

Maybe NOW ...

Can we refer to this sundays business post article:

Sunday Business Post | Irish Business News

"Chip giant Intel is joining forces with an Irish broadband provider for a €100 million investment in a high-speed wireless network to shake up the Irish broadband market.

The move will raise fresh doubts about the government’s National Broadband Scheme (NBS), which will cost taxpayers more than €200million.

The NBS is aimed at rural communities that are not served by broadband operators. However, the scheme only guarantees internet access at a fraction of the speed that WiMax claims to offer."

Though last Sunday is "in the past". That article refers to the future WHICH is already in peril from the above few lines.

In your opinion and specifically as a demonstration of this new "but we have learned from it" mantra, can you give me an example of its application here?

Aidan

PS - OOps, maybe now I wont get an answer - this message is now already IN THE PAST!

[Gadfly]

Mistakes have been made - our leaders will learn from them.

No point in harking on about the past - we can't change it now.. but we have learned from it.

Agree - disagree. Disagree - agree ... disagree.

'Will learn' or 'have learned', by the way?

Care to offer examples?

[SoldierofDestiny]

So where does the past stop and the present / future begin based on your statement?

Now ...

NOW ...

Maybe NOW ...

Can we refer to this sundays business post article:

Sunday Business Post | Irish Business News

"Chip giant Intel is joining forces with an Irish broadband provider for a €100 million investment in a high-speed wireless network to shake up the Irish broadband market.

The move will raise fresh doubts about the government’s National Broadband Scheme (NBS), which will cost taxpayers more than €200million.

The NBS is aimed at rural communities that are not served by broadband operators. However, the scheme only guarantees internet access at a fraction of the speed that WiMax claims to offer."

Though last Sunday is "in the past". That article refers to the future WHICH is already in peril from the above few lines.

In your opinion and specifically as a demonstration of this new "but we have learned from it" mantra, can you give me an example of its application here?

Aidan

PS - OOps, maybe now I wont get an answer - this message is now already IN THE PAST!

Yes that was 8 days ago.. a week is a long time in politics.

[Gordon Bradley]

Eamon Gilmore was righ when he said "this government is always about 2 reports away from making a decision on anything."