Twitter remains a prime target for Ireland – IDA

29 Apr 2011

Despite the fact that social networking phenomenon Twitter is recruiting in-market positions in London, Ireland’s development agency IDA has told Siliconrepublic.com that it still has its eyes on the main prize: Twitter’s international HQ.

A fortnight ago, we reported how Twitter is recruiting key executives in London and that Ireland may have lost out on what would have been one of the jewels in the crown for Europe’s internet capital.

However, IDA Ireland says it is unperturbed by the appointments and is still holding out for a bigger prize altogether – Twitter’s international headquarters outside the US.

“Twitter remains a prime target,” IDA Ireland communications manager Thomas McEvoy told Siliconrepublic.com.

“The company is recruiting in London, but it is not unusual for companies to recruit in-market positions. The social media industry has its ecosystem in locations like London and Berlin and it is understandable that companies in that sector will have specific activities in these locations to liaise into that ecosystem. But an international HQ is a different operation and requires a different set of decisions around that.”

Internet capital of Europe

McEvoy said Twitter would be a proud addition to a country that has already attracted the international headquarters of top internet giants, including Google, Facebook, eBay, Apple and many others, earning Ireland the sobriquet ‘internet capital of Europe.’

I asked McEvoy what factors the IDA believes will potentially swing it for Ireland.

“There are three core reasons why Twitter would locate in Ireland. Firstly, our track record in the internet space. Secondly, our technology capability as a nation and of course the skills availability from our education system to the flexible Visa system we have to enable the right skills to come in.”

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com