We're sending out the wrong signals in bid to lure the big data bucks

Billy Hawkes, data protection commissioner, at his offices above a Centra shop in Portarlington, Co. Laois. Photo: James Flynn/APX

Simon McGarr

Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner regulates the combined personal data of billions of users of Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Apple and Twitter by virtue of their investments here. But, unlike all these giants of technology, the Commissioner's office isn't based around the emerging tech hub of Grand Canal Docks. In fact, it isn't even in Dublin.