Most of the commercial services barometers, including the recent World Trade Organisation report, indicate a downturn in global sales for software, financial services, and information communications technology.

Data centres are playing a key role in Ireland’s bid to reduce its carbon footprint, as well as bringing invaluable high-volume employment, according to a report by Host in Ireland.

The UK data centre market is the largest in Europe, but that that will change, once the EU’s new data-protection regulations become law in May, and Ireland is set to take advantage.

Richard Burns needs only to repeat his performance of the last three years in the Network Q Rally of Great Britain at the end of this month to achieve his ambition of becoming world champion for the first time.

Englishman Richard Burns set himself up for a world championship showdown with former champions Colin McRae of Scotland and Finland’s Tommi Makinen by finishing runner-up to current title holder Marcus Gronholm in the Telstra Rally of Australia in Perth today.