€3bn of online sales going overseas

A local public representative has urged consumers to help reverse the €3bn of online spending that is going out of the country every year, by supporting Irish online retailers.

Senator Deirdre Clune was prompted by the Digital Hub Development Agency’s prediction that in 15 years’ time, Ireland’s online consumer spend will rise to €20bn from the current level of €4bn.

However, with 75% of spending currently going to overseas online firms, the agency said that by 2017, most of this massive spend, perhaps as much as €15bn, could be with companies from outside the State.

Senator Clune said that Irish consumers must be encouraged to e-Buy Irish, while indigenous firms must either implement ways for consumers to buy their products on-line, and market their products to attract a larger share of the market.

According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe, 97% of Irish internet users buy online, with the most popular items including travel tickets, books and clothes.