There was some blunt talk last weekend when leading figures from the Irish diaspora gathered to plot the future away from media intrusion – and several ideas eventually emerged
A LITTLE AFTER 2.30pm on Friday of last week, at the Global Irish Economic Forum in Farmleigh, former Intel chief executive and chairman Craig Barrett kicked off the proceedings proper at the much-publicised diaspora think-tank. To the surprise of many, Barrett didn’t pull his punches. He hit the Government between the eyes with a presentation that gave the event immediate momentum.
The media weren’t allowed to hear Barrett’s speech, but according to some of those who were on the guest list, he told Taoiseach Brian Cowen and the assembled delegates that our education system wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be; that we needed to upgrade our infrastructure; that we weren’t spending half enough on research and development; and that we needed a greater emphasis on producing top-class science graduates.
Barrett said there were about 14 reasons why Intel came to Ireland almost 20 years ago, but that only one remained: our tax rate. In a short video diary, recorded on the fringe of the event, Barrett said that Ireland needed a new plan for the 21st century. “The 1990s were great, but we’re beyond that stage now and Ireland needs a new game plan,” he said. Barrett’s speech set the tone for the three-day event and dispelled thoughts that it was going to be nothing more than a talking shop.
“Craig Barrett set a wonderful tone in the first plenary session,” says Loretta Brennan Glucksman, chairwoman of the American- Ireland Fund. “He put it to the Government that they have to get their act together.”
“The standout for me was really Craig Barrett,” says Shane O’Neill, a London-based Irish millionaire who is head of strategy for the Colorado-based Liberty Global, the ultimate parent group of cable TV operators NTL and Chorus.
Barrett wasn’t a lone voice in issuing a wake-up call to the Government on the challenges facing us. Bob Geldof is believed to have been critical of our tourism product, describing it as “crap” and our hotels as “mediocre”. And we’re kidding ourselves if we think our scenery is unique, according to Sir Bob.
Some of those present spoke frankly about how most Asians know little or nothing about Ireland. “Ireland doesn’t register in China, but they’ve seen Riverdance,” said one delegate, who asked not to be named. “We like to think that everybody knows us and everybody loves us, but it’s just not true.”
“Ireland has to look farther east,” said Australian James Hogan, chief executive of Abu Dhabi airline Etihad. “It needs to look at China, at the Middle East, at south-east Asia.” He added that we should look in particular at travel, education and technology.
Dermot Boden, chief marketing officer with LG Electronics in Seoul, was born in Ireland but grew up in England. He now lives in Korea, and offered this assessment in his video diary: “I’ve lived in the Philippines, Japan and Korea. In these countries, Ireland doesn’t really have a very clear image or brand.” And the solution? “More visits by ministers. They are critical. If you want to be successful in Asia, it takes time to build relationships. Asians want to see the same person, and say to that person in the eye that I understand and trust you . . . Seeing a minister come out and spend time there is going to be critical, and seeing them repeat those visits is going to be very helpful. We have a great package to sell.”
Promoting that idea to hard-pressed taxpayers, who would foot the bill for such travel, will not be easy.
BUT WHAT CONCRETE proposals came from the weekend, which is estimated to have cost €200,000-300,000? The meeting was closed to the media and several delegates cited Chatham House Rules – which respect the private nature of the discussions – in declining to discuss them this week. Others, however, were willing to discuss the proposals that emerged from break-out sessions over the three days.
Barrett and others suggested that Ireland’s spend on research and development should be doubled to about 3 or 4 per cent of our GDP, to bring us into line with other countries competing for foreign direct investment.
“It doesn’t have to be all in one go,” said one delegate. “It could happen incrementally.”
Financier Dermot Desmond is widely reported to have advocated that a university of the arts should be established here to reap a spin-off from Ireland’s rich heritage in literature, music, dance and film and theatre. Desmond wants to build an institution that would have a global reputation, like Harvard in Boston, and could attract thousands of overseas students. His contribution is said to have brought a round of applause.
Various proposals to “monetise” the arts and culture were put on the table. “There was a general consensus that culture was one thing we’ve excelled at,” Shane O’Neill said.
Other suggestions included a government-backed “recovery” bond that would be marketed to the 60-70 million people worldwide who claim to be Irish. Israel has successfully trod this path in the past.
A “super”-website, selling the country and linking with, say, the top 1,000 Irish movers and shakers abroad, was also suggested. There were proposals to allow third-level institutions to pool their resources more effectively and there was tacit agreement that delegates, where possible, would offer Irish graduates employment in their companies. There was also a proposal that the Irish Technology Leadership Group in Silicon Valley, an independent body formed just two years ago, should receive funding from the Government here.
There was much talk about Ireland’s telecoms infrastructure, or lack thereof. Denis O’Brien reputedly said that the Government should look seriously at nationalising Eircom, which is set to undergo its fifth change of ownership since privatisation in 1999.
His call was met with a wall of silence from those Government members in attendance, who included Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism Martin Cullen.
“ has been like a rag doll handed from one private equity group to another,” said one attendee. “The network has to be brought up to next-generation status.”
SO WHERE TO from here? Economist David McWilliams, who is credited with coming up with the idea for Farmleigh, says he is “leading the charge” in formulating the proposals into a coherent document that can be presented to the Government within weeks.
“There are big structural things that need to be decided before the Budget,” he says. “But there are a whole load of smaller items that we can deal with directly that can produce results immediately . . . I’m very confident that we can put to Government two big ideas. And there are half a dozen things we can do ourselves.”
The Sandyford-based Institute of Management in Ireland says it is preparing a report for the Government, summarising the proposals that emerged from the session on the so-called “smart economy”.
When contacted this week, Washington-based senior public affairs consultant Susan Davis was preparing a memo on the event.
“While it was a tremendous event, what’s missing in terms of discussing the diaspora were the voices of the young people,” she says. “Moving forward, you really have to include younger generations in the session. Maybe the embassies worldwide could hold ad-hoc sessions for young people.”
There has been talk of “break-out” groups meeting in regional clusters or across industry sectors to develop initiatives. There has also been talk of a Farmleigh II event in the next year or two. All of the participants contacted by The Irish Times said they would be willing to be involved again in some way or other.
However, not everyone is convinced by the Farmleigh love-in last weekend. Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary, one of Ireland’s most successful businessmen, might be vigorously campaigning for a “Yes” vote for Lisbon but he turned down an invitation to the economic forum.
“I wouldn’t participate in a three-day photoshoot, listening to the great and the good of the Irish diaspora, a lot of whom, like Bob Geldof, don’t employ anybody in Ireland, don’t pay any tax in Ireland,” O’Leary says. “I’d happily go along for four hours on a Tuesday in Government Buildings, with no press, no photo-calls, and come up with a list of decisions, and then let’s implement them. The problem with this Government is that it’s always one forum, one high-level commission and one photo-shoot away from making a decision.”
Susan Davis says the event was more than just “window dressing” and praised the Taoiseach and other ministers for their engagement and willingness to listen.
“It was very open,” she says. “Everything was on the table.”
McWilliams also takes a positive view. “The easiest thing to do is to knock these ideas,” he said. “The most adventurous is to say that this can work. I think it can work. This is real.”
Where possible, employ Irish graduates
Double Ireland’s spend on research and development to about 3 or 4 per cent of GDP, to bring us into line with other countries competing for foreign direct investment
Establish a university of the arts to reap a spin-off from Ireland’s rich cultural heritage
Issue a government-backed “recovery bond” to be marketed to the 60-70 million people worldwide who claim to be Irish
Provide Government funding to the Irish Technology Leadership Group, an independent body set up in Silicon Valley two years ago
