I am keenly aware of the increased use by individuals and private companies of information technology as a preferred means of conducting business. As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment I consider it very much my role to actively encourage and facilitiate the use of IT as a means of doing business.
For some considerable time now, it has been possible to communicate with staff at all levels within my Department by Internet mail. In common with other Government Departments, my Deparment has populated a website on the worldwide web which is used to advertise the services provided by the Department together with relevant contact points. The website is used extensively to publish reports and other up to date information about my Department.
My Department does not run any schemes either to grant-aid or assist education in Information Technology.
In the matter of e-commerce, my Department is at the forefront in bringing forward a number of initiatives to facilitate the conduct of business through the use of information technology. One example of e-commerce in action in my Department relates to the facility to file applications for import licences over the Internet. There are a number of other initiatives in the pipeline although some are as yet in the early stages of development. During the course of 1999, I intend to bring a number of e-commerce projects to fruition within my Department. One such project relates to the facility to enable insurance companies to submit their annual financial returns to my Department over the Internet. A similar project in the companies registration office would enable companies to file their returns to the office electronically. These initiatives are broadly welcomed by the business community as they enable a more efficient method of doing business. I anticipate that these type of initiatives will pave the way forward and that e-commerce will, in the future become the way to do business.
