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IIA board is fortified with ECAI merger
Thursday, April 19 2001
by Matthew Clark


The Irish Internet Association (IIA) and the E-Commerce Association of Ireland
(ECAI) have signed an agreement to merge the two organisations.





The new organisation is to be called the Irish Internet Association and Andrew
O'Shaughnessy, the current chairman of the IIA will retain the chairmanship of
the new organisation. 

Both organisations held EGM's on 09 April in which they voted overwhelmingly to
merge. In addition the IIA conducted an e-ballet vote that accounted for 70
percent of the total votes cast in a move to further utilise the medium it
promotes.

"I feel delighted about it. It's going to be a stronger voice and stronger
association," O'Shaughnessy told ElectricNews.Net. "Their experience is really
going to strengthen the board of the IIA."  

The ECAI was established 1989 and until May 1996 was known as the EDI Association
of Ireland. In 1996 the organisation renamed itself "to reflect the wider
aspects of electronic commerce."

The Association has provided a common source of information for electronic
commerce users and potential users in Ireland.

Three former ECAI board members, John Pierce, Patrick Tully and Rory Power, will
be moving into the IIA board bringing the total 12 to 15.

"This is a really good fit as both associations whilst operating in the same
space, had different focuses. Collectively we can now further the development of
the Internet for business," Pierce said.

The moment toward a merger started last year said O'Shaughnessy and ongoing
negotiations led to completion of the deal.

The two organisations have been moving in the same direction in recent years
according to O'Shaughnessy. "Ultimately we had the same goals," he said.

The new Association will be tighter financially, he added. 

The IIA currently employs 3 staff members with Frank Cronin as the Chief
Operating Officer.