Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

KildareStreet.com's fundraiser asks users to help bring the site 'back from the dead' before Halloween. KildareStreet.com

KildareStreet.com launches fundraising bid to build new site

The team behind the Oireachtas debate-tracking website need a new system compatible with the new Oireachtas website.

THE DEVELOPERS behind a popular independent website that allowed users to track Oireachtas debates on any matter of their choosing have launched a fundraising campaign hoping to build a new edition of the website.
KildareStreet.com, which had over 570,000 unique visitors in the year to September, was rendered redundant by changes to Oireachtas IT systems aimed at cutting back on spending in Leinster House.

The changes – which saw transcripts of all Oireachtas business moved from debates.oireachtas.ie to a separate microsite, oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie – resulted in the loss of XML functionality, which KildareStreet.com used to build its own site.

Administrators are now looking to rebuild the website so that it can ‘scrape’ data from the new website, without the need to rely on any XML feeds produced by the Oireachtas authorities themselves.

This, in turn, would mean the site could add to its own database of debates sooner after those debates happen, as the transcripts of parliamentary business are uploaded to the new Oireachtas site quicker than they had previously been.

It would also, in theory, allow the site to extend its facilities – including the possible publication of a TDs’ voting records, which are built into the Oireachtas transcripts.

The new system will require several weeks of work to build and finalise, however.

The two-week campaign, which launched this morning, had reaped donations of €559 by the time of publication.

The website was founded in 2009 and has operated thus far based on €5,800 raised from donors at that time. It does not receive government funding.

Read: Oireachtas ‘seeking resolution’ to revive KildareStreet.com debate tracker

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
10 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Colfer
    Favourite John Colfer
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 6:33 PM

    excellent idea, but unfortunately it won’t work until the tendering process changes. I think its nigh on impossible to tender for such projects unless you’ve done similar work before or know somebody, who knows somebody….

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nucky Thompson
    Favourite Nucky Thompson
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 7:10 PM

    You are wrong.

    The EU procurement public sector directives are based on the pillars of non discrimination, equal treatment, and proportionality.

    The Dept of Finance have made it very clear that SME’s should not be disadvantaged in any way as part of any procurement process. They have in fact issued a Circular (10/10) which has changed public procurement procedures to open up the market to smaller companies.

    This article contains a lot of ‘statements’ with zero proof or evidence of truth to back them up.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute censored
    Favourite censored
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 10:39 PM

    He is right. Give examples of successful applicants please.

    Most Irish companies focus on international markets immediately, and for good reason: it’s easier and the potential rewards are greater.

    10
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Lanigan
    Favourite Paul Lanigan
    Report
    May 5th 2012, 11:56 AM

    John is correct. The Public Servants making the purchasing decisions are risk adverse in nature and given the choice between an expensive big (secure) company with a track record (low perceived risk) and a smaller indigenous business that has little brand recognition (ass cover) – they will always go with the ‘safe’ option.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Higgins
    Favourite Sean Higgins
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 6:07 PM

    Most small companies don’t see a cent of this money when trying to start up employing staff and paying prsi, paye and vat. So where the hell is it all going………

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Higgins
    Favourite Sean Higgins
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 7:49 PM

    Thompson set up your own company and then get bak to me.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nucky Thompson
    Favourite Nucky Thompson
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 8:44 PM

    No need my friend, I already have my own company and employ 8 full time staff.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Howard
    Favourite David Howard
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 10:25 PM

    The process has been opened up, but the reality is that if an Irish SME “won” an RFP without reference or ‘form’ in any major contract, a large or multinational company would/will simple go to the eu courts saying the process was non compliant and the Irish gov will capitulate… That of course is if anyone who was in a position to make a decision had a pair and stepped outside the cosy convenience of awarding the contract to the huge company with the huge price tag and cosy side clauses in the first place…

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank2521
    Favourite Frank2521
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 11:38 PM

    Enterprise Ireland – a better name would be ” Only friends need apply”.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Roddy
    Favourite Joe Roddy
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 11:50 PM

    That’s a nonsense comment. EI do try and help. They don’t like single person companies, they prefer in teams. They also heavily lean on experience, so anyone under 30 would find it more difficult.

    I don’t really agree with government betting tax payers money on start-ups. The only thing start-ups need is customers to generate cash flow.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Dooley
    Favourite Niall Dooley
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 6:56 PM

    Great article and it’s a view |’ve shared for many years. Government contracts should be open to a competitive tender process perhaps not annually but certainly every couple of years. I have no doubt public money is being wasted by companies who have government contracts and who over time become inefficient but at the same time don’t fear losing the contract they may have held for decades. The new startups should be the way to always push for innovation. Surely, there are startups who could revolutionise our health service for example with a clever use of software. The number of areas this would apply to is enormous. We need to be investing more in these science and technology companies as they will drive any economy and improve our standard of living to no end. All we need is someone in government with true vision. I lament at how little consideration science is given in forming public policy. I recommend everyone to read ‘The Geek Manifesto’ by Mark Henderson.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Craig Walters
    Favourite Craig Walters
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 9:12 PM

    Hang on hpsu, so called gazelles, are innovative, manufacturers or internationally traded services, but most importantly have an export focus ! So how can we buy from them if they’ve an export focus ?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Popsicle Pete
    Favourite Popsicle Pete
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 7:20 PM

    What if they have inferior products or services, why buy from them then?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Fintan Kennedy
    Favourite John Fintan Kennedy
    Report
    May 5th 2012, 7:38 AM

    Good article. As far as I’m aware winning government business is next to impossible for most Irish software firms. Which often puts them in a strange place when competing overseas as their rivals can cite govt business at home. In spite of this many succeed, but little or no thanks to Ireland’s government sector. It will be interesting to see if our govts new interest in cloud computing will result in local software contracts too

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RP McMurphy
    Favourite RP McMurphy
    Report
    May 5th 2012, 8:53 AM

    @nucky thompson. Your comments are wildly off the mark judging by the experience of many, myself included, but perhaps one of your gifts is dealing with ps procurement. Does your company have a website perchance? You are very vague in the description of what field you are in.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nucky Thompson
    Favourite Nucky Thompson
    Report
    May 5th 2012, 9:22 AM

    There are too many companies in Ireland who think they are good enough to win public sector contracts when the reality is that they simply are not good enough.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Faulkner
    Favourite Peter Faulkner
    Report
    May 7th 2012, 11:56 AM

    The main point of the article is quite obviously valid. The state should support its own investments, if the project is good enough to invest in, it should follow it must be good enough to buy from!

    All SMEs should have a fair shot at Government procurement.. They generate employment and tax revenues in this country, it is more than galling to see overseas firms pick off supply contacts and leave nothing here. My own sector, Print and Packaging, is a classic example. We have seen a vast number of closures due to a lack of orders…while government spends overseas, all justified by Euro gobbledygook and an inability of our public servants to innovate in making it happen at home. As usual, if you don’t want to do it, it becomes impossible!

    Peter Faulkner

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Funding Enterprise
    Favourite Funding Enterprise
    Report
    May 5th 2012, 4:10 PM

    We know that the key to IT/Digital velocity is early sales connectivity. Even though we are a funding organisation, we seek to drive growth in early stage IT.Digital primarily through minimum viable product and, if necessary, service work. Recently we have effectively seed funded a superb operation in prospect analytics with service work and am now driving it with a tactically assembled sales force. This week we have taken a significant stake in a digital messaging marketing platform in return for accelerating its growth out across our very extensive network.
    Yes, funding is important – but connection to the commercial world and commercial acceleration are often more important again,.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Higgins
    Favourite Sean Higgins
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 9:29 PM

    Did you get help setting up

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nucky Thompson
    Favourite Nucky Thompson
    Report
    May 4th 2012, 9:47 PM

    Other than a great wife and an understanding bank manager I got to where I am now pretty much on my own. We have won a number of public sector contracts over the past 5 years by offering innovative solutions to public sector requirements.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RP McMurphy
    Favourite RP McMurphy
    Report
    May 5th 2012, 11:32 AM

    @nucky. That may indeed be true Nucky so I am even more curious re your company/ website now in order to learn from you.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds