Ten-step makeover for a better tech industry

It's 2001, a new year, and a resonant one for technology fans. In the famous 1969 film of Arthur C. Clarke's book set in this year, we were pictured travelling by shuttle to remote space colonies, wearing lots of stretchy white jump-suits, and speaking to intelligent computers.

Alas, the majority of us are earthbound still, albeit grateful that clothing options are more forgiving of holiday over-indulgence than futuristic cat-suits. However, we still have a nice, fresh year before us, and a year that sees the Irish technology scene in a state few could have imagined in 1969. But there's plenty of room for improvements. In the spirit of the time of the year, I offer 10 new year's resolutions for the Irish technology industry.

1) More self-confidence, less begrudgery. Given the strength of the industry, the broad swathe of international names that locate here and the quality of many of the Republic's home-grown tech companies, the sector as a whole remains surprisingly under-confident. Many in the industry seem to subscribe to the Imposter Syndrome - that the Republic has had this success accidentally and soon, the world will realise we're all just faking it.

Coupled with this is the unfailing capacity of this nation to begrudge its own successes. Listen: the technology industry in particular is so inter-linked, the global market so big, this nation so small, that each success here buoys rather than drowns other contenders. Maybe someone else will hold the door open for you. Enjoy it.

2) A greater sense of community. Outside of a few award dinners, the sector seems to have little sense of itself as a gathered force. It does almost nothing socially or charitably as a group. It doesn't even have any kind of industry association to lobby, define issues, set agendas, talk to the media. Who are you? What are you? Given your potential for action, for change, for simply enjoying yourselves once in a while, collectively?

3) Decent Internet service for businesses and home users. Servers go down. Lines ring busy. And ring busy. And ring busy. Connections drop.

Connections drag. Companies are told their ISDN service will be back up - tomorrow. This is so 1995. Could the Irish Internet industry please learn what the word "service" means?

4) Legislation to force mobile companies to share masts. Everyone knows masts are a sore issue. But the State now has 60 per cent of its population using mobiles and the numbers keep growing. Reception is already woeful in many areas. Guys, you need more masts now, and will undoubtedly need more for the new 3G network. You're going to need to share them. Stop using this issue as a way of keeping out newcomers to the market.

5) Strong privacy protections. Some of these we will get anyway as the most recent data protection directive comes into national law this year (it's long overdue). Last year's e-commerce legislation firmly backs the use of encryption and protects privacy, but the Department of Justice needs to decide about its own approach to encryption and surveillance. The Republic is considered exemplary by businesses and privacy advocates for its existing approach. We need to maintain those protections across the board and argue fiercely against having the EU override and undermine them.

6) A privacy watchdog group. Despite the fact that we are creating critical copyright, criminal and e-commerce legislation that has enormous privacy and human rights implications for businesses and individuals, the State still does not have a single group keeping an eye on such developments. Ireland may well be the only European nation lacking such a group. This is a frightening and foolish situation, given the size of the technology sector here and the impact these laws could have on its viability. 7) Anti-spam legislation. Why not lead the international assault on this e-mail scourge? 8) More resources into research and development. The recent moves to pump £1.95 billion (€2.49 billion) over five years into this area are hugely welcome but long overdue. And it's not enough. The Republic still lags far behind nations it must compete against to retain and expand its tech industry.

9) More work by both industry and government to broaden the reach of technology into schools. The Republic remains in the at the bottom of the league tables concerning the number of computers in its schools, especially at the primary level. Teachers need training and support in their use in the classroom.

If a tiny fraction of the money the IDA gives in grants to multinational companies annually went towards actually improving (rather than boasting about) the nation's schools, and encouraging students to pursue computing and engineering careers, think of the competitiveness payback down the line.

10) And finally, the Government must start quantifying its tech industry. Astonishingly, no hard statistics have been available for several years now on the number of technology companies here, how they break down by sector, how many are employed within it, how such companies contribute to the economy, the overall value of the industry. What we get are guesses from various agencies. How can the Government chart its economic future without understanding such essentials?

klillington@irish-times.ie