David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I have been informed that the Netherlands sought a derogation with respect to that EU directive. If it was good enough for that state it can be good enough for us. We cannot hide behind EU directives on every issue. There is a responsibility to ensure we act in the interests of citizens here. We have the opportunity to seek a derogation from any EU directive if we so wish.

I will deal with amendment No. 6 very quickly. The Minister will remember that post codes were to be introduced to Ireland by January 2008, more than three and a half years ago. Little has happened in the intervening period due to clear opposition to previous proposals. However, in a last-minute effort to rush matters before the election, a tender process to select an organisation to implement the planned post code system was commenced on 17 January 2011, and this tender was to proceed on the basis of the 2006 report by the post code project board, which recommended an area-based post code. That was criticised in the Oireachtas report referred to earlier.

In addition, a few days before the tender was announced, officials from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources were quoted in an article in The Irish Times stating that a precise digital address code, such as that designed by Garmin, would not provide the basis of the national system. Such a statement serves several purposes, one of which was to emphasise that a precise code as advocated would not be selected. A minimum turnover of €40 million is required for a business to enter the process, which highlights that the tender process is not to design a suitable post code but rather to find a large business process outsourcing company to implement post code design which has already been decided.

These are the reasons we have concerns about the Government proposals. I would welcome a response from the Minister and I hope he can support the amendment.