Comments on: Brian Cowen’s Innovation Taskforce, Innovative Policy http://www.irishelection.com/2009/06/brian-cowens-innovation-taskforce-innovative-policy/ Coverage of Irish Politics, News and Current Affairs Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:43:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Keith Gaughan http://www.irishelection.com/2009/06/brian-cowens-innovation-taskforce-innovative-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-120642 Keith Gaughan Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:21:42 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/?p=8770#comment-120642 It has to be noted that the presence of Chris Horn in the membership *is* a very good thing. That bodes well in and of itself. The rest of the membership... well... It has to be noted that the presence of Chris Horn in the membership *is* a very good thing. That bodes well in and of itself. The rest of the membership… well…

]]> By: Aisling Ryan http://www.irishelection.com/2009/06/brian-cowens-innovation-taskforce-innovative-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-120639 Aisling Ryan Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:24:07 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/?p=8770#comment-120639 I think 'constrained' is putting it mildly FLP. With Dermot McCarthey not only sitting on the taskforce but also chairing it is unlikely that discussion will be at all critical of enterprise models developed under current government. It's difficult to imagine any of the recommendations made will stretch further than copying the best practice model. Patrick Collison is the perfect example of how the functioning of existing organisations such as Enterprise Ireland fail innovators in Ireland and badly need new thinking from the likes of Collison. (http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2008/03/30/story31667.asp) There are also a multitude of arts-based organisations who have survived for years using innovative methods and would have substantially more to contribute than the heads of established third level institutions. Pat Moylan, current chair of the Arts Council, is but one such innovator. I think ‘constrained’ is putting it mildly FLP. With Dermot McCarthey not only sitting on the taskforce but also chairing it is unlikely that discussion will be at all critical of enterprise models developed under current government. It’s difficult to imagine any of the recommendations made will stretch further than copying the best practice model.

Patrick Collison is the perfect example of how the functioning of existing organisations such as Enterprise Ireland fail innovators in Ireland and badly need new thinking from the likes of Collison. (http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2008/03/30/story31667.asp)

There are also a multitude of arts-based organisations who have survived for years using innovative methods and would have substantially more to contribute than the heads of established third level institutions. Pat Moylan, current chair of the Arts Council, is but one such innovator.

]]> By: FPL http://www.irishelection.com/2009/06/brian-cowens-innovation-taskforce-innovative-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-120638 FPL Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:06:20 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/?p=8770#comment-120638 There is a lot of focus on the means but what are the ends? As Karl Whelan pointed out there are no economists on it, neither are there any sociologists, unions, etc etc The taskforce is top heavy with goverment types or their nominees (most of the entrepreneurs or small businesses are probably their courtesy of EI) besides that it is multinationals and university heads. The question to ask is: Can this taskforce come up with suggestions that challenge the economic and financial ideologies that support our society? What would happen if they defined some of the ends that innovation could deliver to society as a whole but that would conflict with say the interests of the large corporations? One has to suspect that the taskforce will be constrained. There is a lot of focus on the means but what are the ends?

As Karl Whelan pointed out there are no economists on it, neither are there any sociologists, unions, etc etc

The taskforce is top heavy with goverment types or their nominees (most of the entrepreneurs or small businesses are probably their courtesy of EI) besides that it is multinationals and university heads.

The question to ask is: Can this taskforce come up with suggestions that challenge the economic and financial ideologies that support our society?

What would happen if they defined some of the ends that innovation could deliver to society as a whole but that would conflict with say the interests of the large corporations?

One has to suspect that the taskforce will be constrained.

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