Ireland has slipped back to 21st place from 20th place last year in the World Economic Forum’s 2006-2007 Global Information Technology report. This year the league table topped by Denmark, Sweden and Singapore.
While Ireland slipped a place, the US slipped from first place last year to seventh place this year.
However, Ireland has consistently failed to move up the league table and has constantly hovered around the 20th position.
This year Ireland was pipped by countries like the UK (ninth), Germany (16th), Austria (17th), Israel (18th) and Estonia (19th).
With record coverage of 115 economies worldwid, the Global Information Technology Report (GITR), published for the sixth consecutive year, has grown into the world’s most respected assessment of the impact of ICT on the development process and the competitiveness of nations.
The Networked Readiness Index (NRI) measures the propensity for countries to leverage the opportunities offered by ICT for development and increased competitiveness.
Ireland’s lacklustre performance was slammed by Mike O’Hara of business-to-business IT firm Datasolutions.
“It’s time for us to pay serious attention to international trends,” said O’Hara. “A country like Ireland with such a huge reliance on exports must keep up with information and communication technology.
“There is a clear correlation between the sophistication of a country’s information technology and its ability to compete economically on international markets.
“Information and communication technology does not follow from prosperity, it expedites prosperity,” O’Hara added.
By John Kennedy
