Eamonn Coghlan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and having lived in the United States with zip codes, I certainly welcome the Eircodes. When people ask me for my address in Ireland, I tell them it is in Dublin. When they ask me what is my zip code, I reply it is Dublin 15 and they often express surprise and ask if that is all. We also have found it difficult to buy online from the United States to Ireland in particular without a zip code.

While some of my questions have been addressed by Senator O'Donovan, it was stated that this is the first system of its kind in the world and obviously, there will be a great number of teething problems as it progresses. However, if this proves to be an enormous success and if other countries around the world wish to have a similar system, who has the ownership of this system and the associated royalties? Is it the Department or is it Capita? From where does the formula for the unique identifier come and how is it determined? An example was given of two addresses that might be 150 m apart between which a third home may be built. How will the new unique identifier for that house be identified?

To revert to the question of Sat Nav, if we are trying to be more efficient, why would small businesses be obliged to pay for the new unique identifier? The approaching Christmas season was mentioned and in a scenario in which I send out my Christmas cards this year and the address for one happens to be 4 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, it will go to the sorting office. Does An Post then take that envelope and apply the unique code to it, after which it arrives at 4 Kildare Street, Dublin 2? Likewise, if I intend to send out 100 Christmas cards, does that mean the onus is on me to identify the new zip code or Eircode for those to whom I may be sending them? Another area on which a point was made concerned Google Maps. If I, for example, intend to travel somewhere in the United States and enter the area code 10580, it will take me to Rye, New York. Under this system, if one puts in the Eircode, it could bring one exactly to the house. Will Sat Nav companies such as Google Maps and others be buying this system from the witnesses in the future? Finally, do the witnesses anticipate much of a backlash from the public and the unions and if so, are they ready to deal with it?