Simon Coveney defends Web Summit attack

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has defended his department’s record of involvement with business leaders at the Web Summit saying he would be very surprised if his staff were found wanting in terms of drumming up business for the country.

Mr Coveney was responding to the continuing fallout from correspondence released by the Web Summit between its co-founder Paddy Cosgrave and officials from the Department of the Taoiseach.

Other than his concerns over a lack of government action on key areas of concern that eventually saw him take the decision to move the event to Lisbon from next year, Mr Cosgrave was highly critical of government departments’ engagement with attendees.