Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Delaney. Like the Chairman, I have listened to all the evidence and I thank Mr. Delaney for the documents he sent us. My concerns about this project grow every time I hear more detail at these meetings. Supposing we do nothing - I know this has been through the tendering process and so on - the taxpayer saves €27 million and An Post continues to deliver 98% of the post the next day. Mr. Tom Carr, on behalf of his people, stated they do not want it and the safety sector stated it can find places where there are accidents, etc. We have never had a proper cost-benefit analysis. The national post code document that the Department sent us on 19 November last is not adequate.

All I can say at this stage is that there is a Government economics and evaluation service - the head of the oversight committee is Professor Frances Ruane whom we all know - and there should be an independent cost-benefit analysis done on the project. I am worried that we are not getting independent advice in regard to issues raised with us, such as the Aer Lingus sale and whether electricity wires should be overhead or underground. The advocates come in here and are all gung-ho to do the project.