As concerns grow about the intent of French group Vivendi, Rupert Murdoch is expected to take the chairmanship of BSkyB later this week. The move follows the sale of Pathe's sale of it's 17% share in BSkyB to Vivendi. A replacement from Vivendi would be anathema to BSkyB due to Vivendi having a 34% stake in Canal Plus which in turn has connections with BSkyB rivals ONDigital.

The internet is a dangerous place full of pirates, crackers and credit card thieves. There are people out there who will take your money. It is way too dangerous for any form of commerce without the benefit of 40 bit ultrasecure encryption and the latest E- Commerce webserver. If you want to put your business on the internet, then it just has to have the latest in secure transactions.

When fog of the politicical flunky's hype disperses in the cold wind of fiscal reality, Irish E-Commerce is left standing there in quite a state. It is a case of "The Emperor's New Clothes".