Irish minister expresses disappointment as Web Summit snubs Dublin with Lisbon move
Richard Bruton, Ireland’s minister for jobs and innovation has expressed ‘disappointment’ after organisers of the popular Web Summit expo announced they would relocate the fair from Dublin to the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.
Web Summit is a successful Irish start-up organised by Paddy Cosgrove which draws delegates from around the world to participate in networking and promotion and had enjoyed close links with the government, connections which Bruton maintained would continue.
Questioned as to whether the government ought to have offered stronger incentives to retain the Web Summit in the Irish capital Bruton said: “It is obviously disappointing that a decision has been made to move on, but Ireland and Dublin remain a very vibrant entrepreneurship space and that won’t change. We will continue to build on that and I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities to showcase those strengths that we have here.”
Seeking more positive news Bruton highlighted a decision by six US technology firms to recruit 320 people in the country as being indicative of Ireland’s continued attractiveness to hi-tech businesses.