Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

98. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he took and the discussions held regarding the retention of the International Web Summit in Dublin; the actions taken to address issues raised by the organisers if the event was to remain in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33596/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The international Web Summit event held in Dublin has been a phenomenal success since its inception and my Department, through its agencies, is delighted to have been a partner since its foundation.

The Web Summit event first began in 2010 and had just 400 attendees. IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland have been core supporters of F.Ounders/Dublin Web Summit event since the beginning. Both agencies have been sponsors of the Dublin event, as well as other overseas-based events, which are organised by Paddy Cosgrave and his Web Summit team.

The company behind Web Summit, Connected Intelligence, is an Irish success story and has been expanding its events internationally in recent years, running technology conferences in the US and Hong Kong. Earlier this year it held two smaller events in Belfast, while next February it will hold "Surge" for the first time in India. This Irish company continues to operate from their headquarters in Dublin where they employ 130 people.

The number of people attending the event each year has increased rapidly and last year 22,000 people attended the event. It is predicted that this year’s Web Summit at the RDS in November will have approximately 30,000 attendees, with 2,000 start-ups, 1,000 leading investors and 650 speakers due to take part.

In preparation for Web Summit 2015, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland engaged with other governmental stakeholders to discuss a number of issues raised by the Web Summit team. These issues centred on Dublin city services, infrastructure (broadband/Wi-Fi, public transport and accommodation) and the availability of a suitable conference venue of scale.

Ultimately, the decision to move the Web Summit event in 2016 to another location is a commercial decision by the organisers. Both IDA and Enterprise Ireland have enjoyed working with the Web Summit and look forward to continuing their relationship in the future both at home and abroad.