Negotiations between the Taoiseach's office and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab continue, the Margin hears, and a decision could well be imminent to open a branch of the research facility at Dublin City University. But while the head of the Media Lab, Nicholas Negroponte, is in town this week, members of the Government he meets are likely to find themselves discussing a more pressing issue.

Days after landing in Ireland, the guru of the digital age was still shaking his head in disbelief about his treatment on arrival. Despite having purchased a ticket from Boston to Dublin, he found himself sitting in an aircraft on the tarmac at what appeared to be a little-used airport somewhere in the west of Ireland.

Someone eventually explained to the technology specialist that all airlines flying on routes between the Republic and the United States were forced to break at least one flight in two at Shannon. By the time the plane gets down and then up again, this takes up at least an extra hour of passengers' time.

"Why?" Mr Negroponte asked one gathering in Dublin this week. With sighs all around, he was informed that it was "a political matter".

He vowed to suggest politely to any minister he met that the Government should scrap the stop-over rule.