Mr. Alan Dignam:

Chairman and members, I am pleased to appear before the committee to answer any questions you may have concerning the operation of Eircode. I understand the committee wishes to consider matters raised in the reports of an Coimisinéir Teanga concerning Gaeltacht placenames that continue to be available in English alongside their Irish versions in Eircode. We are aware of the issues raised by the commissioner and hope to help the committee with its inquiries today.

Capita Business Support Services Ireland was appointed by the then Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in 2013 to develop and manage the postcode system for Ireland as the postcode management licenceholder. The system was branded as "Eircode" and Capita Business Support Services Ireland operates Eircode, including the Eircode finder online application.

The Eircode database is constructed using data provided by An Post GeoDirectory, which Capita has licensed. This is the sole address database that populates the Eircode system. It is stipulated by the terms of Capita Business Support Services Ireland's agreement to operate the Eircode system. Eircode has no authority or remit to alter these addresses. Eircode is authorised to assign alphanumerical codes known as Eircodes to postal addresses within the State from this database and to maintain and update the Eircode database, which is available to license and provides the functionality behind the Eircode finder web application.

Concerning addresses in the Gaeltacht areas, Eircode uses the postal addresses as indicated in the An Post GeoDirectory database. When searching for Eircodes or addresses in Gaeltacht areas using the finder application, the addresses default to the Irish-language versions. To view the English-language versions of such addresses, users must click on a separate tab marked "English".

Each quarter, we receive a list of new or updated addresses from An Post GeoDirectory which are then integrated into the Eircode system. In operating Eircode, we take considerable care to ensure we correctly identify the addresses that are situated in Gaeltacht areas and to specify that they default to the Irish-language version when searched for in the Eircode finder. Additionally, all Eircode web pages are available in Irish, and Irish-language customer service options are available to allow people to have their queries answered via email, post or phone in Irish.

While addresses in Gaeltacht areas default to Irish-language versions, Capita Business Support Services Ireland is not entitled to unilaterally remove English-language versions of these addresses from the Eircode system or otherwise alter the An Post GeoDirectory addresses on which Eircode relies. We hold a contract to operate Eircode as a public service provider and perform the contract according to its terms. As the committee will be aware, an Coimisinéir Teanga's monitoring report, which was published in July last year, outlines that any statutory language obligations relating to the use of Gaeltacht placenames fall under the remit of the Department on the Environment, Climate and Communications, and not that of Eircode or An Post.

I am nevertheless conscious of the importance of the committee's work in ensuring adherence to the statutory language obligations. Therefore, I welcome the opportunity to provide responses to any inquiries members of the committee may have or to offer any necessary clarifications.