How is Ireland viewed as a centre of excellence? Do you think it has changed over time?
Cathal Quinn Group Commercial Director Moy
Paddy Ryan : In terms of the construction industry, in general, Ireland has been viewed as a centre of excellence for many years. You can be in Finland, Netherlands or Denmark and you see Mercury, Adrmac, Jones, etc. logos on every data centre site across Europe. Paudi Reidy : In addition, multinational and FDI companies have long been in Ireland. One of the components that has enabled them to be successful is through Irish common law. They have been safeguarded through the years, whether it is through semiconductors, life sciences, pharmaceutical or other industries. That trust and security developed translates to data and the data centre industry. Cathal Quinn : [This trust and security] is important as the pace of data moves faster than any other industry in Ireland. In addition to the reputation set by the construction industry and the ease of doing business in Ireland, the relationships these companies build with their Irish counterparts are critical to the success of any project, but in particular for the data centre industry. Is this something unique to Ireland? Cathal Quinn : I believe it is. We’ve been on multiple sites across Europe, where the main contractor changed four, five or six times. We’ve seen the architectural firms change a couple of times. All for the same client, but we’ve managed to stay. I believe that the quality and strength of the relationship makes a difference. Sometimes in Ireland we just think that’s just the way business is done, but when we go abroad, it’s not the same. Other cultures may deliver projects based on metrics or procedures, but the way we build relationships is unique to Ireland. It enables us to get the job done right for the customer, and I think, is reflected in the longevity we see on projects. Greg Hayden : Building that trust begins on Day One. When we are pitching a project, the team we present in that initial meeting is the team they work with throughout the project. As we made the transition to the data centre sector in 2008, we were learning on the job with the clients. When the time came to pitch and win business abroad, the dynamic changed. We were now bringing in knowledge of having worked with these top foreign direct investment companies. They knew what we were about, we understood the industry and together we were able to be successful in other markets.
“ I believe that the quality and strength of the relationship makes a difference. ”
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