Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is an additional facility, so the addresses will still exist. All the local knowledge and experience that people have will still be there. It will not be wiped out and we are not deleting anything. We are not deleting addresses from the national memory, they will still be there. This is something additional.

One could make the argument as to whether the additional facility will be an improvement or otherwise, but the worst case scenario is that the current situation will simply remain. To say that it will lead to loss of life is an unfortunate and unfair criticism.

My Department has briefed all the emergency services on this project. Our first concern is the emergency services and I accept that Senator Craughwell is right there. The code will be available to all emergency services at whatever stage their systems are ready to exploit it. In some cases business concerns may not be ready to exploit this particular form of postcode, at least from day one. The national ambulance service, however, is already constructing a computer-aided dispatch system to use Eircodes. It will be deployed in the new state-of-the-art national call centre during the course of this year.

Senator Craughwell mentioned one representative body and he knows exactly what I am referring to. There are trade union interests, of course, and this is one group that made statements some months ago. I wish to make clear, however, that the national ambulance service on which we rely so much and which has done such a terrific job, has welcomed the introduction of Eircodes as they will facilitate the speedier deployment of their services. That is what they have told me and it has been made very clear. They are looking forward to the launch of the Eircodes, which will assist in locating addresses.

The point was made that some businesses say they will not use the system. It may well be that some businesses will not use the system from day one, but I confidently predict that as the months go by, a lot of businesses, including dispatch firms, will start to use the system, especially if their competitors are doing so. The well known and successful courier company Nightline, for example, is enthusiastically supportive of this project. It has said that to me both privately and publicly. I confidently predict that when competitors see the success of the Eircode system as the months progress, they will use it also.

As regards Senator Quinn's comment, I cannot say whether Irish Water proposes to use the system. That is a business decision for that operation and we will see whether it makes that decision. Many public services, Government Departments and agencies will use the Eircode system and are gearing up to use it.

This Bill is about data protection. It is about ensuring that there could be no doubt about the protection of data and citizens' rights in respect of their data. We are not in a position to roll-back or unpick the work of many years on preparing this design. Senator Quinn mentioned Bobby Kerr whom I appointed to a working group on the future of the post office network. He recently gave me his interim report, which is excellent. It really points the way for the future success of the post office network. I will continue to work with Mr. Kerr, as I am sure Senators will do also, to provide their views on the areas of business that rural and urban post offices can attract in future.

The Eircode project is separate, although linked, and I do not propose to stall it in the way that Senator Quinn has urged me to do. We have now reached an important milestone with the publication of this legislation to protect citizens so that, in Senator Whelan's words, there will be a belt and braces approach to data protection. Senator Quinn asked if fines would be levied for the improper use of data. The Eircode is attached to an address, not an individual. Once the Eircode is associated with any personal identifier, like a name, it engages the protection of the Data Protection Acts, which contain and include extensive powers to ensure compliance, including fines.The Data Protection Acts apply in any use of personal data. All of these protections remain and will be available to any aggrieved citizen should an issue arise in the future.

This legislation is necessary to give additional protection in the use of the postcode. I am talking about the postcode shorn of any identifier because once it is possible to link the Eircode with an individual the Data Protection Acts will kick in. It is a belt and braces approach. The Eircode simpliciter- the bare Eircode - is being given additional protection in this legislation against misuse. I reassure Senator Feargal Quinn that all data protection legislation remains in place.

Senator David Cullinane asked about costs. The cost to the Exchequer of the roll-out in the ten-year cycle of the contract is expected to be €27 million. These costs cover design, database upgrades, media and Eircode distribution. The cost of the contract will be €16 million in the first two years and a further €1.2 million per annum for the remaining eight years of the contract.

I am sure the Chairman wants me to move as quickly as possible, but I wish to reply to Senators. Senator David Cullinane also asked what the benefits were and what the business need was for Eircodes. They are very significant and improved efficiency and accuracy of internal business processes will be possible as a result of the improved accuracy and consistency of databases across the public and private sectors, facilitating the accurate location of all addresses in the State, making it easier for consumers to shop online and quicker and easier for emergency services to locate addresses and delivering improved efficiencies as regards logistics and better planning. As I went through all of these points earlier, I will not detain the House with them again.

On public service costs, the Department is compiling an impact register that details the costs and benefits which a selection of public service bodies expect to encounter in their interaction with the national postcode system after it is launched in the summer. To date, 20 public service bodies have completed questionnaires. I can provide further information for Senator David Cullinane and the House on costs, if they so wish. These costs will be greatly outweighed by the benefits that will accrue to individual citizens, in the management and operation of public services, to business, in online trading, to the emergency services and in all of the economic and social activity we want to promote.

The Data Protection Commissioner has acknowledged the publication of the Bill and views this legislation as positive because of the way it underpins the implementation and operation of the Eircode system and ensures essential data protection safeguards are put in place. The legislation deals with data protection. I understand Senators want to use the opportunity to raise broader issues, particularly on Second Stage, but we are not coming to the House with the original proposal. We are coming with an additional set of safeguards in primary legislation to ensure there can be no residual concerns about the protection of individual citizens' data. It is extremely important to do this.

If I have forgotten anything, I look forward to addressing it on Committee Stage, as well as amendments Senators might wish to bring forward.