Web Summit organiser Paddy Cosgrave has issued a statement regarding the conference's decision to relocate in 2016 to Lisbon. He's also published "key correspondence between the Web Summit and the Irish Government", which points a very accusing finger at the Taoiseach's office.
In a letter dated September 21 to Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach, John Callinan, Paddy Cosgrave complains that: "For four years we've requested a plan. In the last four weeks, and in the strongest possible terms, we've requested four times in writing, and twice by phone to both the Taoiseach and his private secretary, Nick Reddy. We've repeatedly asked for even a one page indicative plan for 2016 that addresses in some 'small way' the four issues we've highlighted: traffic calming measures, increasing the frequency of public transport, hotels and wifi.
"We have met, spoken and emailed perhaps more than 100 times over the last number of years. Despite all those meetings and conversations, we still don't have even a single page plan for even 2015, never mind 2016. Nothing regarding traffic management or public transport has been placed in writing for this year, despite promises following the many disasters that arose in 2014. Remember the person appointed to coordinate Dublin in 2014 by the Government denied just before Web Summit 2014 that he was coordinating anything. As bizarre as that was, this general pattern has repeated itself for at least three years now.
"I do hope you can understand how a complete lack of coordination places us in a very difficult situation where we are left with little option but to leave Dublin for one of the many cities that has presented us with a plan.
"I appreciate your suggestion of yet another meeting, but given that these many meetings have produced nothing in the past, could we please ask that you present us with even a one page plan for 2016? As we've repeatedly stated we're not looking for a penny. Web Summit contributed, according to the Taoiseach, €102 million to the economy in a single week last year. Surely, given all that you are doing to bid for the Rugby World Cup, something is possible for Web Summit, even a single page?
"We've been presented with hundreds of pages of incredibly detailed plans by other cities who have no experience hosting Web Summit. Yet after five years in Dublin and over 100 meetings, phone calls and emails, we still don't even have a single page plan for Web Summit in Dublin."
In today's statement, Cosgrave writes: "We’re releasing correspondence between Web Summit and the Irish Government regarding the 2016 Web Summit, which you can access at [link]files.websummit.net/correspondence.pdf[/link]
All of this correspondence is due to be released under Freedom of Information in the next week or so.
"In releasing this information openly, we want to be transparent about the reasons for moving Web Summit to Lisbon in 2016 and to place on record the issues in question.
"We are doing this not to point the finger but to help everyone focus on the future. We believe the future is bright and here’s why: Ireland is an incredible destination for conferences. Whilst there are issues that need to be addressed in order for large conferences to take place here, they are relatively small. And, we believe, easy to overcome.
"With the experience of Web Summit, which we started in 2010, we have launched conferences across the world over the last two years. These conferences are growing far faster than Web Summit ever has. In short, we’re getting better at growing and producing conferences.
"It’s for that reason that we’re optimistic that, if we can work with the Irish Government and relevant authorities, we will grow many great conferences in Ireland over the coming years and so can others. We’re hoping this release starts a real debate about how to achieve a bright future for Ireland as a conference destination with all the benefits.
"We’re committed to launching conferences in Ireland in the future and we stand ready to help fix the issues in question."