E-commerce Bill to be rushed through Dail

An e-commerce Bill is to be pushed quickly ail, the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, announced yesterday.

The Minister said the urgency with which the Bill was being introduced was to take advantage of a projected rise in the worldwide e-commerce market from £14 billion currently to £207 billion by 2003. The introduction of the Bill coincides with a planned investment of more than £120 million in high-grade telecommunications facilities by the State as part of the National Development Plan.

Speaking at the Government's consultative forum on the plan in Cork yesterday, the Minister said the southern and eastern region would see a State investment of £36 million, which would attract private investment of more than £200 million.

The Bill was drafted following a public consultation period which included an online discussion forum. According to Ms O'Rourke, clarity and speed were vital to remove any legal uncertainties seen as barriers to growth.

The proposed changes in the law would allow consumers and business to benefit from "the same legal certainties when dealing online as those which are in place for paper transactions".

Ms O'Rourke said: "By clarifying many of the uncertainties that currently exist this legislation will help accelerate the adoption of e-commerce."

She added that the Bill would also help to make Ireland a more attractive location for e-commerce investment.