Taoiseach to miss out on web summit due to late invitation

Taoiseach Enda Kenny looks almost certain to miss the final Web Summit 2015 in Dublin this week after only receiving a formal invitation late on Friday evening.

Mr Kenny has been a big supporter and high profile attendee at the high-tech networking event – which has received €700,000 in State funding over the last three years – since it was first held in Dublin in 2013.

Last year he rang the Nasdaq opening bell from the RDS and in 2013 he shared a platform with PayPal and Tesla co-founder, Elon Musk.

However, it appears he will not be making an appearance at the final summit in Dublin before it controversially decamps to the Portuguese capital Lisbon next year

In a statement issued on Sunday evening, the web summit rejected reports Mr Kenny had not been invited but admitted an invitation was only emailed to his office on Friday “along with invites to other participants”.

Typically a Taoiseach’s diary is planned weeks, if not months, in advance and informed sources said it was unlikely he would be able to make space in his schedule.

A spokesman for Mr Kenny played down talk of a snub and said “the Taoiseach has been delighted to attend all previous web summits particularly given the level of support he has offered it”.

He confirmed that "no invitation had been received at least by 4.30pm on Friday evening. The Taoiseach wishes [organiser] Paddy Cosgrove and all the web summit team well in Lisbon".

Thousands of people have started arriving from all over the world for the summit and with a registration desk now open in Dublin Airport to cater for the crowds. The RDS has also boosted internet connectivity following fierce criticism of its wifi from Mr Cosgrove last year.

He was also very critical of traffic around the venue and hotel prices in the city during the event.