Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We have a leading-edge project here. In a context where every OECD country has already introduced this type of system - most of them 30 years ago - we are able to benefit from the subsequent advances in technology. Moreover, the expenditure on the project will go back to the State on a scale in excess of 50% because it involves preparing the databases within Departments and so on. The company that won the competition already employs 1,000 people in Ireland.

I did not know there was a turnover threshold below which companies could not apply, and I am sceptical as to whether that was, in fact, the case. In any event, as we can see from the period of time it has taken to reach where we are, a great deal of care went into ensuring the company chosen has the proven capacity to deliver on this significant challenge. The establishment of a system of unique identifiers puts us at the leading edge in terms of this type of technology. The new system has been universally welcomed - particularly by business, and not just businesses in the logistics areas. In the context of an era of digital enterprise, this is the way we have to go. In addition, it will add to the bottom line of An Post.

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