Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are not debating the necessity of a national postcode system; I agree with the Minister that we need one.

What we are discussing is the process that was used to award the contract. If I understand what he said correctly, the Minister indicated that an annual turnover threshold of €40 million was set in respect of seven companies. This means that a process was used, after the tenders were received, to set the threshold in question.

Is there a person involved with the successful bidder who was also instrumental in designing the system in the first instance? I would regard it as very unusual business practice if an individual who was responsible for identifying the need that exists and designing the system to be used would be employed by the company to which the contract was awarded. Is this the case?

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