John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is difficult to say yet what the long-term implications will be of using the unique code to identify each individual house in the State. Based on my reading of the Bill, the introduction of the postcode system has some merits, not least the unique identifier which will allow ambulances and other emergency services to get to an address quickly. Precious minutes could be saved in matters of life and death, particularly in rural areas.

There is no doubt that the identifier will also be of significant benefit to State services, making it easier for the Revenue Commissioners, for example, to collect taxes and other charges. I imagine Irish Water will welcome access to such a database with open arms. With regards to privacy, I am not satisfied, like other Members, that the concerns of the Data Protection Commission about individual house coding have been adequately addressed. The requirements for the code were revised without consultation in 2010. There is merited concern that modern technology could be used to create dataset information on people’s addresses which could be used for many purposes, including for State services and for commercial exploitation. This is not acceptable. The awarding of individual codes to each address is contrary to advice given by the Data Protection Commissioner. Will the Minister clarify whether the move from the original proposal for an area-based code to an individual code was driven by commercial pressures? It appears to me that this may very well be the case.

What has been proposed in this country is unprecedented anywhere else in the world. The argument has repeatedly been made by the Government that an area-based postcode would not necessarily raise major data protection issues. Has a full privacy impact assessment been carried out to assess these implications? If not, will the Minister carry out such an assessment? It is a reasonable request from those in the Opposition. It is still not too late to lock the stable door after the horse has bolted.

How much has been spent on consultants on this project? Is the consultant spend separate from the €25.6 million we have been told will be the overall cost? My information says it is. Why is further expertise, above the €25.6 million figure, necessary to oversee a system that we are told is ready to roll out?

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