Address by Mr. Noel Treacy T.D., Minister for Science, Technology & Commerce,at the Signing of a Contract betweenVersion 1 Software Ltd and AXA PMPA Ltd.,on Thursday 10th May, 2001, at Fitzers Restaurant, Temple Bar, Dublin.

I am delighted to be with you all this morning on the occasion of Version 1 Software Contract signing with AXA PMPA Ireland to provide the latter company with Pro³ Watch service. This will protect and maximise the performance of the AXA PMPA’s Oracle database.

Version 1 Software, an Oracle Certified Solution Partner, was established in response to a market need for innovative software solutions, particularly within the Oracle arena. The company, through a range of different service options, provides solutions and services for both Internet and client server user environments.

AXA PMPA Ireland, part of the global AXA group and Ireland’s leading insurance company, provides a broad range of products specialising in car and home insurance through it’s website and network of branches nation-wide. The company has been a pioneer in adapting technology to enhance business performance and offers a state of the art claims management system with rapid response times.

As AXA PMPA has an extensive client base, its database application is an essential tool for the company to integrate financial, operational and customer information. According to Version 1 Software, the Pro³Watch service was developed for the reason that it is being used by AXA PMPA Ireland mainly to eliminate the difficulty in managing Oracle databases. A correctly managed database can be an innovative source of competitive advantage. The signing of this contract between Version 1 Software and AXA PMPA here this morning, augurs well for both companies and I wish everybody involved every success in the future years ahead.

As regards the E-Government topic for this morning’s event, I would like to stress again that Government has a vital role to play in supporting the new digital revolution. E- Government is an opportunity to take advantage of the increased productivity, reduced costs and improved customer responsiveness, through using new technologies. The E Commerce Act 2000 has paved the way for the acceleration of the delivery of our public services on-line. This new Act makes Ireland one of the first countries in the World to have a transparent and codified legal framework for electronic transactions. Effective use of web sites and e-mail has the capacity to bring Government closer to our citizens. E-Government will enhance the access of the business community and the citizen to government information and services, and speed up standard administrative processes. It can also provide new ways to increase citizen participation in the democratic process.

Ireland can become a lead country in eCommerce and ePublic Service provision. This Government is committed to making this happen. Government Departments have been asked to accelerate their strategies for bringing services to business and the public through the internet and to publish their strategies over the coming months. This process will anticipate a wider connected Government project (REACH) to make all public services available through a single web based source.

Customers of Government will be given the option to do their business, including interactions with the public service, online through the Internet, through PCs, phone, TV or call centres, whether as citizens or businesses. The objective is to provide online access to fully integrated, customer focused public services. This will mean less red tape for our customers and quicker access to services.

As part of the Action Plan for Implementing the Information Society in Ireland, our Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is responsible for the development of the BASIS (Business Access to State Information and Services) E-Government project. This initiative arises from a commitment by all levels of Government to improve the compliance processes that affect business in Ireland and make it easier for business to deal with Government. The delivery of information and services will be based around the events of a business such as employing staff, accessing funding or registering a company. It will be delivered in a consistent manner and will focus on the needs of the business community. The first module of the new BASIS website is now available at www.basis.ie.

The site has been designed to demonstrate the concept of delivering public sector information to the business community based around the everyday needs and actions of a business. This module contains information and downloadable forms relevant to the area of "Employing Staff". It also contains information grouped under six topics - Tax, Registering a New Company, Customs & Excise, The Environment, Public Procurement and Statistical Information. Further modules of the BASIS website will be launched over the coming months.

Other E-Government initiatives implemented include

• pilot project to develop On-line Consumer Small Claims procedure, launched last December.
• Revenue On-line Service (ROS) for processing a range of tax returns went online in September 2000.
• Land Registry On-line Service, launched in October 1999, which allows users to conduct on-line searches of the electronically available register. This is part of a comprehensive programme of information technology being undertaken by the Land Registry and Registry of Deeds.

In conclusion, I would like to wish all participants a successful and enjoyable event.