Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegates. A number of issues arise. I raise the issue of the emphatic way in which the trade sector has expressed its concerns in how to go forward with the Eircode system. The delegates have touched on this issue, but it is a major one, if the sector is emphatically against its introduction.

Mr. Duggan has said his organisation has been discussing the HSE's emergency services. There appears to be an undercurrent of concern among some of those involved in the emergency services that in practice this system may lead to slower rather than faster response times. Was it a mistake not to put in place geographically recognised codes?

There is also, of course, the issue of data protection. At this stage nearly every sector that holds personal information such as addresses or other data has a huge issue with data protection. The delegates might go into this matter also.

I also ask the delegates to address the costs of establishment and the figures of €27 million and €80 million. While they have touched on that issue, I would like them to expand on their comments. In terms of the outlay by the State and the Department, what has been spent on consultants' fees in the past two and a half to three years in the establishment of the Eircode system? While the delegates have addressed some of the issues the Chairman raised, there is still deep concern among those who will operate the system. The delegates might use the time to try to explain this or alleviate the very genuine concerns some people have.