Shortlists announced for 2008 IIA & Enterprise Ireland Net Visionary Awards

Voting in the 2008 IIA & Enterprise Ireland Net Visionary Awards has opened to all at www.netvisionary.ie. These awards are Ireland’s longest established awards celebrating those using the internet for business. A Net Visionary award is highly regarded as it is a stamp of approval from business colleagues and peers, as nominations and voting are free and open to all.

Maeve Kneafsey, IIA Chair, speaking about the awards said, “It is always important to celebrate excellence. You could argue that in uncertain times it’s critical to take advantage of the opportunities and competitive advantages that can be gained by doing business online. The Net Visionary Awards allows us to highlight the best in online business in Ireland, but also to stimulate ideas for other companies to emulate. The companies who are shortlisted have been chosen by their peers because of their visionary ideas and approaches to all manner of business. These companies with visionary ideas will ensure that Ireland remains competitive and visible on a global scale for all the right reasons. They act as an inspiration to business people and entrepreneurs here and abroad. I would like to congratulate the shortlist and wish them all the best in the 2008 IIA & Enterprise Ireland Net Visionary Awards.”

Fergal O’Byrne, IIA CEO, commented, “This year we received more nominations in more categories than any year previously. This is a reflection of the innovative, imaginative and customer focused use Irish businesses are making of the Internet as a marketing, communications, sales and resource-saving tool. It’s also a reflection of the fact that Irish internet business users are choosing to use and to celebrate Internet tools, applications and websites developed in Ireland.”

Each of the 17 categories comprises 4 shortlisted companies. The categories cover all aspects of doing business online. The overall 2008 IIA & Enterprise Ireland Net Visionary Award is chosen from among all those shortlisted by the board of the IIA. This special award and each category award will be announced at the gala black-tie awards ceremony which takes place on Thursday October 30^th 2008 in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Bookings for the awards ceremony can be made at www.netvisionary.ie