Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to extend my best wishes to the Taoiseach, who is addressing the European Parliament today. I hope that our MEPs, whom he has met in this House, will alert him to the close links between Irish MEPs and the Seanad. As Seán Kelly, MEP, said to us when he was here, "I wish to congratulate the Seanad in being to the fore in our national discourse on the issue." Jim Higgins, MEP, told us that he is the envy of MEPs from other countries because of his links with the Seanad. I hope the Taoiseach notes that. He will also note that next week is the 34th anniversary of direct elections to the European Parliament. Previously it was an appointed body, rather like the replacement for the Senate that the Taoiseach apparently had in mind at one stage. Yesterday was also the 14th anniversary of the restoration of the Scottish Parliament and 26 July is the anniversary of the restoration of the Welsh Assembly. It is a very good time for parliamentary democracy, and rather than going around finding out about Parliaments that were shut down 40 or 50 years ago, the Taoiseach should get in touch with new uses for parliamentary assemblies and devolved powers. I hope all of that comes to light when he addresses the European Parliament.

I read in a report in The Irish Times on Saturday that a new postcode system is expected to be introduced within 18 months. When writing to my constituents, it is much easier to write to them in Monaghan town, County Monaghan, than it is to write to them in Fermanagh, with a mixture of letters and numbers after that name. This system for the Republic will cost €15 million and will have an annual running cost of €2.5 million.

That is all that is mentioned in The Irish Timesarticle. We would want to achieve savings of between €4 million and €5 million to make the project worthwhile. Will the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources disclose the overall cost-benefit analysis of the proposed system? Of course, the company providing the system will have salesmen to say it is wonderful. From the article, however, it looks as if it will cost €15 million, money we do not have, with an extra €2.5 million in running costs. When the project was previously presented to the Government, it was claimed that it would save money. A proper appraisal of the project needs to be made to see if it is worthwhile. It is much easier to write addresses on letters in the Republic of Ireland than it is in the United Kingdom because we do not have a postcode system.