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Updated 6.35pm
THE WEB SUMMIT has published the e-mail correspondence between Government officials and itself, in the weeks before Web Summit organisers announced the summit would move to Lisbon next year.
The mails show how the relationship deteriorated as the summit’s founder Paddy Cosgrave repeatedly requested assistance for the event.
The letters show that Cosgrave didn’t ask for funding but was concerned with four main issues - traffic management, public transport, hotel costs and WiFi at the RDS.
Cosgrave repeatedly asked for the State’s involvement in organising these issues in the e-mails.
Arriving at the European Council in Brussels, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it was his belief that the Web Summit’s decision to relocate to Portugal was a “commercial decision”.
“They’re quite entitled to that decision, and I wish them every success in Lisbon,” the Taoiseach added, and noted that he has supported the event since he was in opposition.
The government, for its part, have always been very encouraging of the Web Summit since its fledgling state. The agencies of the government, like the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, have contributed financially, and other elements of government, Fáilte Ireland, Bord Bia, the Science Foundation, would have contributed to the Web Sumitt in various other forms.
The Toaiseach said that he was in contact with Cosgrave personally recently, and offered every assistance the government could.
It wasn’t the government writing a cheque for this, but being very supportive, very encouraging all along the line.
In an e-mail dated August 21 2015, Cosgrave outlined to the Taoiseach’s Private Secretary Nick Reddy exactly what was being offered from other cities outside of Ireland.
However, Cosgrave added that it was the company’s “absolute preference” was to stay in Ireland.
Three days later, Cosgrave wrote to Reddy again to point out that he had not received a response. Reddy then replied saying, “Paddy, have this and the document received on Friday. Will be back to you. Nick.”
“We don’t want a penny”
However, eight days later Cosgrave wrote again to say he had still not received a response.
Cosgrave emphasised that the summit was ‘not looking for a penny’ but added that if the four issues of concern were not dealt with then the Web Summit would be “too big, too unmanageable, too risky for Dublin”, adding “we need your engagement”.
Reddy responded two days later, saying he was on a trade mission in France and would get back to him.
On September 3, Cosgrave wrote again stating, “I realise everyone across Government is very busy but we seem to be able to maintain daily calls with other governments at a ministerial level across Europe, both from large and small nations.”
The Web Summit founder also pointed out that they had never managed to get a single meeting with Dublin’s City Manager, but were constantly invited to meetings with prime ministers of other countries, including Number 10 Downing Street.
Moreover, no Minister has ever attended a meeting yet they all show up for photos at Web Summit.
He also clearly stated that, “Without a plan for 2016, we will be forced to leave.” He added:
Clearly, I’m despondent that we are literally being forced out of Ireland just for the lack of some very basic things like a plan for traffic management and public transport similar to sporting events.
Nick Reddy replied on September 10, saying that the Taoiseach was “confident a sensible and effective plan” could be prepared for 2016 informed by arrangements for 2015. The mail stated:
“The Taoiseach is fully committed to ensuring that, within the obvious constraints that arise from hosting an event of the size and scale of the Web Summit in Dublin, the Government and its officials help to make the event as successful and sustainable as possible.”
“A plan for a plan”
Seven days later, on September 17, Cosgrave replied by reiterating the need for a plan.
We are not looking for a penny, just a plan. Without a plan for Dublin city, even an indicative one page plan for 2016, we cannot remain in Dublin.
Reddy responded to Cosgrave the next day, saying: “Got that and will revert.”
On September 21, Cosgrave then wrote to the Assistant General Secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach John Callinan explaining his concerns.
Callinan replied on the same day with a draft framework for engagement.
The next day Cosgrave described Callinan’s response as “misleading”.
We are looking for four specific issues to be specifically addressed in some “small way”. What you have sent is not a plan, but a plan for a plan. There are no specifics.
On September 23, Callinan responded to Cosgrave, saying:
“By the time you sent me this email I had already been informed of the decision to move to Lisbon and that you would be announcing it with the Deputy PM of Portugal in Lisbon the following morning.”
“Love to come back”
Speaking on Drivetime on RTÉ Radio 1 this evening, Cosgrave said:
“What we were looking for in Ireland was just four simple issues, we stressed again and again that we were not looking for money.
We just hoped that something could be put in place similar to a football or rugby match where there are traffic calming measures, because there would be 30,000 people this year in Dublin and that was possible everywhere else in Europe.
He explained that last year about 10,000 attendees had to walk back from the Web Summit because there wasn’t adequate public transport.
When Mary Wilson asked Cosgrave why he was going to the Taoiseach with these issues, Cosgrave said:
“We had always been referred to the Department of the Taoiseach… it had been the department that other agencies had insisted we co-ordinate with.”
The reason that we left Ireland is that, it wasn’t until the day before we made the announcement that we received anything and what we received was a three page plan for a plan.
He said he spoke to the Taoiseach by phone on August 21, adding, “The deal wasn’t signed (with Lisbon) until September 23.”
Wilson then asked Cosgrave, “Do you feel the Taoiseach should have been picking up the phone to you?”
After a five second pause Cosgrave said, “Did I feel that the Taoiseach should be picking up the phone to me? … No, not at all, no.”
Cosgrave ended by saying he “would love to come back to Ireland in the future”.
We’re Irish, we’re an Irish company staffed with mostly young Irish people and we’d love to do something in Dublin.
The Web Summit has a three year commitment with Lisbon.
Additional reporting by Nicky Ryan
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Parents creating mental issues where there are none. Life sometimes throws a curve ball. Stay positive. Adapt. Invent. Deal with it.
@Wood Jackson: There are massive problems for children. Being stuck at home and banned for all social activities for 3 months, has made so many confident happy children nervous and afraid to leave their parents. Same for older people.
@Wood Jackson: totally agree, parents need to think outside the box, I know too many parents that they are covering up “I can’t deal with the kids” with ” I’m concerned about what it will do, please open everything”.
I’ve done stuff with my kids that we never ever had a chance before, so much great times we have had. In our house it will be the impact on family life that will change for the worse when things get more normal.
@Wood Jackson: its very tough for children who have no siblings or friends and not getting attention from parents who are working all day from home.
Thankfully playgrounds are back open now, so hopefully things will turn around for these kids now.
@Wood Jackson: These kind of flippant stiff upper lip comments are why this country has such a problem with suicide. You have no idea what those kids are going through yet you imply, the parents, who know their children the best are ‘creating mental health issues’ What exactly do you think a parent would gain from that ?
@Wood Jackson: How you think an event, that’s touched nearly every country in the world, killed almost half a million people, stopped any form of normal life for months, not allowed embracing of loved-ones or interacting with friends, can not have a mental effect on people (incl. kids) and just needs some positivity is beyond me.
I think that attitude only futures contributes to the stigma of talking about mental health. I’d be one of the first to say kids are resilient and most will bounce back quickly when/if normality resumes but I think you’re frankly wrong in not allowing space for parents to be worried about the effect on their kids or in not believing this can have an effect on kids (“Where there are none”)
I think talking to kids regularly about how they are doing, recognising that’s it’s ok to feel down, annoyed, frustrated etc. can help encourage good conversations and avoid any bigger mental health issues down the road
@RJ: lucky you. Not everyone has been in the position where they can.
@Wood Jackson: Jebus ur clueless
@Wood Jackson: My son is a single child of 7 years. He hasn’t seen his classmates nor his best friends who is 1 year younger since the lockdown. They weren’t allowed at first and later if they would play at thst age 2m apart. You can’t have an eye on that the full time.
When homeschooling started my partner did that with him but this isn’t social interaction on an equal level, I also took him daily in the park for fitness challenges after work and spent my free days with him doing boardgames or what the 2km around town. However, I’m not 7 and my needs are different than his.
I could imagine that the lockdown time could be nice for children with siblings and parents who don’t work and can spent time with children but reality is that not every child is so lucky.
My child has changed for sure and is now glued to screens while he was otherwise far more active.
We plan now playdates with at least 1 child again and the parents again. Screw that kind of life.
My kids are quite happy sitting around on their arses all day playing video games and screaming/fighting while me and my wife try to work. It’s our mental health I’m worried about!
@John Shea Hen: Lol, very true.
@John Shea Hen: I hear ya!
I think it depends on the home situation. If parents are stressed, kids will be stressed. For many kids home life wasn’t a happy place before lockdown; lockdown made it worse. My kids were most stressed when I was attempting to homeschool without a spare laptop, work from home, cook, clean and break up fights…often all at the same time…having to stay up late or get up early in the morning to catch up on work. When I let “standards slip” let them play, use their imaginations, use “nanny Mctv”, stay in their pjs all day, get take aways, do bare minimum of homeschool, leave the house messy…they were happier, I was less stressed, they were less stressed…my kids have never been more content. Kids have to learn that life is not easy or go your way
There are kids who miss months or years of school and socialising because of illness all the time. Their mental health isn’t affected long term because of this. Kids are resilient. It’s parents making an issue when there is none. 3 months out of a lifetime is nothing. They’ll be fine.
My kid absolutely loved it but got back to socializing and interacting very easily.
@Emma Dobbyn: your kids aren’t all kids. Have a bit of empathy. The idea that this isn’t an issue for some families is ridiculous. I teach 18 autistic students and this has had a terrible impact on some of them and their families.
@Graham Manning: I have plenty of empathy and I completely understand how difficult it must be for families who have children with additional needs. However the article said that 70% of parents were concerned, 70% of the children in the country do not have addition needs. If we were speaking about a subset of children my opinion would be different.
@Emma Dobbyn: “parents making an issue where there is none”??? 70%? Fair enough but it’s far from just those with SEN and certainly not none.
@Emma Dobbyn: I don’t think that’s a very good comparison. Children who miss school for months or years at a time through illness is setting the bar really low. It also doesn’t factor in how children need to stay back a year if they miss too much school.
The big problem here that nobody seems to accept is that there may be no vaccine for the virus in the medium term. It might take years and years. So what is the solution to children’s schooling needs in this scenario? They are due back after already missing 6 months of school. What if there is a big 2nd spike of the virus this autumn? Do we force another lockdown and children miss more school? What about a 3rd and 4th wave?
Maybe try being better parents then?
The message we hear since March is ‘fear through national media. Such media also implying kids were a danger for spreading the virus.
I feel sorry for the kids.
Get a grip.
Children are free to interact with other children at present , this should help socially and emotionally for the vast majority of children . Some children with additional needs require far more support. These children usually qualify for “ July Provision.” The DES have made a pig’s ear of it , vague guidelines at the last minute, as per usual .
IT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW THE BIASED MEDIA HAS BRAINWASHED PEOPLE INTO BELIEVING THE SNOWFLAKES AND THEIR SOCIALIST IDEALS.
@Jim: HEY JIM, QUIT WITH THE BLOODY CAPS LOCK PLEASE!!!!
@Jim:
Did you have a bad lockdown, Jim?
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