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Summary of ideas submitted in the Technology category…

• All citizens should have a governmental email address based on their PPS number. Instead of having items posted to the home, individuals can sign up for electronic communications.
• All energy and water monitoring systems in Irish buildings should be continuously monitored using low cost wireless technology. This would give Government agencies live map of energy and water consumption in Ireland.
• Allow a company to hire degree level three-year ‘apprenticeship’ basis. This would be a fixed term contract that the employer is not obliged to continue after the 3 years. It would be similar to apprenticeship schemes in trades. The scheme could be structured to provide cost benefit to the company by way of tax credits or Enterprise Ireland grants. In return, the company must abide by a high level framework to provide training and certification in a chosen area such as CISCI, .Net, Java, PM etc.
• Build a nationwide broadband infrastructure funded by the people.
• Build and promote a travel website where Irish drivers can publish a planned trip. Would be like ridester.com but with map visualisation
• Change all public lighting to LED devices.
• Compile a digital (online) linguistic digital map of Ireland to show the dispersal of Ireland’s current 160 or so languages. The advantage of such mapping would allow the state, local authorities, and other parties to see where cultural supports and language planning should be provided.
• Compile a national online database of mobile telephone numbers for service providers.
• Connect every home in the country to a fibre optic network.
• Connect Mayo to New York via very high bandwidth fibre optic cable. This service can be used for movie post production, offline archiving and data mining.
• Create a free website allowing people offer their skills/experience. People can advertise their skills; indicate where they are located and what they charge. Allow a search by keyword so purchasers can find the skills they require.
• Create a website that sells ‘ephemeral’ goods, e.g. spare space in your car for the commute to work.
• Create dense wind farms - 2k by 2k. Twelve of these would power the country when the wind blows. The problem is storing the electricity for when it is calm. Therefore, we could sell the excess energy to the U.K.
• Currently all recycled plastic products like planks, fencing posts, seats, signposts etc are produced by a few companies on the island north and south. Make it a condition on all local authorities/HSE/NRA/government departments that a percentage of their products have to come from these sources
• Develop a National Science Museum.
• Develop the Earn & Learn Concept — 50% educational 50% practical. This promotes a balanced lifestyle for people, and has a positive affect for families and their wider communities.
• Drop corporation tax to zero and end employer PRSI for 5 years. This would stimulate employment.
• Employ independent contractors to evaluate the size and scope of government projects to avoid budget over runs.
• Enable taxation of payments on non cash remuneration to be deferred until it is realised. This will result in: Coalitions of talented willing people to give their expertise and time to fledgling start up businesses free of cash payments when funding is impossible.
• Encourage the use of Open Source software in the public sector
• Engage the Institute of Engineers to evaluate entrepreneurial ideas
• Enterprise Ireland should establish virtual offices to provide advice and other essential services to start-up companies.
• Establish a collaborative centre of technology excellence to address the lack of expertise in the government.
• Establish an international trading platform for Ireland. This website would enable construction professionals, financial services companies and manufacturing companies etc to advertise their services and products to an international audience
• Get state companies such as ESB, BGE etc to provide infrastructure for telecoms
• Give support to unemployed engineers and architects to retrain in renewable energy skills.
• Government departments and agencies should consider switching to Linux, the free operating system.
• Hold a digital video or art competition with a tourism promotion theme: that way you could boost technology and tourism at the same time
• I would like the Government to publish a White Paper on their understanding of the knowledge economy and how it will change Ireland.
• Improve Ireland’s broadband by using students and FAS trainees to deploy end-user Wi-Fi equipment. The teachers and FAS trainers can be the project managers.
• Improve the IT education structures so that all the top IT students work together.
• Instead of trying to become the ‘Silicon Valley of Europe’ we should specialise in specific up and coming technologies, like eCommerce and green technologies, that are going to become prevalent across all aspects of lives in the next 20 years.
• Instead of using video tapes for CCTV we should use IP camera technology. Full streaming video is enhanced by powerful B & G bridge arrangements. This will also enhance broadband throughout the surrounding area.
• Introduce true competition in the broadband infrastructure in this country. This new company would only be responsible for phone and broadband infrastructure.
• Invest in thermal depolymerization processes to produce energy so that we are less reliant on gas and oil imports