The name BASIS is actually a clever acronym which stands for Business Access to State Information Services, and it does exactly what is says on the tin. For the first time, people had a single point of contact for all business related government services and information, which meant essentially that anyone looking to do business of any kind with the state could use the BASIS website as their starting point. This was the core point of the website, and to date, there is nothing else like it that comes close to its scope and linkages.

The site itself is broken down into a number of different categories, which, in effect, provide services across the lifecycle of a business, from start-up through expansion, and on to eventual wind-up. For example, it has links to set-up and registration of a business, as well as a summary of grants, employment issues and the legal and regulatory environment in which business has to operate in Ireland.

Following start-up, BASIS provides links to areas such as licensing and permit, as well as taxation. It also contains a wealth of advice for business, in areas such as marketing and e-commerce. It has links to sites devoted to business expansion, and information on such business transactions as mergers and acquisitions, and, in the event of wind-up, it has information on liquidation (voluntary and involuntary), and the taxation and employment implications to closing or selling a business.

Indeed, there are more than 700 articles, which have been gleaned from more than 50 government departments and agencies available through BASIS . . . and unlike some impenetrable government documents, these are presented in a user-friendly, clear and concise manner, to facilitate the general business user of the site. This information is constantly updated to reflect the current situation.

But BASIS is more than simply a portal for information . . . businesses can actually carry out some important dealings with the State through the site, although the site itself does not process these dealings.

Rather, by clicking on certain areas, businesses are directed to other state-run websites, some of which will have their own on-line services through which business can be conducted.

Prominent features on the site include a free newsletter, a How do I? Section . . .

answering topical questions in an easy step by step manner, a News section, and a very useful forms section which contains some of the most commonly used application forms and government returns forms.

While BASIS was regarded as radical when it first came into being, it is now part of the vanguard of state information services . . . although there are plans to review the site with a view to possible updating it in the future. Even without a revamp, tts effectiveness is growing year-on-year, with almost 250,000 hits in 2006 . . . the best year to date for the website.

As more government services come online, it becomes more important to have a single point of contact for businesspeople (ordinary citizens with dealings with the government can go to www. citizensinformation. ie, formerly OASIS). But the BASIS website is also a vital link for students, people involved in research, and indeed entrepreneurs . . . because BASIS is for business, or people with a business focus, who are looking to do business with the government.