‘Postcode plan not interrupted’

THE Commission for Communications Regulation (Com Reg) last night insisted that work on the possible introduction of postcodes would not be interrupted by the controversial departure of two consultants.

The consultants left the project last week after the Communications Workers Union (CWU) complained they had been previously employed by a British company, which advises private companies on how to access postal networks through the use of postcodes.

The CWU had a particular concern about the two consultants since they had been involved in facilitating the availability of postcode information to companies, who could then sort their own mail instead of relying on the postal services.

Such a development in Ireland would mean a likely loss of business and jobs in the postal services.

Both of the consultants concerned worked for a British company called Strategia, which formed part of a consortium called Version 1, hired by ComReg to look at the technical aspects of introducing postcodes. The pair were previously employed by a firm specialising in advising clients on benefiting from postcode data.

ComReg could not last night confirm the value of the contract, but it is understood to be a significant six-figure sum.

A spokesperson for ComReg could not say whether any of the money could be recovered, but said the research work was continuing and would not be interrupted.

The previous history of the consultants only emerged when they participated in a round of meetings with stakeholders in the industry, including An Post, without declaring their past.

The union only discovered the pair had a previous connection with an English company engaged in downstream access when one of them e-mailed using a company address.

While stopping short of claiming any conflict of interest, the CWU said members were concerned about the lack of disclosure from the company, with the connection was only discovered accidentally.

ComReg said there was no question of a conflict of interest and that the two withdrew to allay any union concerns.

As a result of the discovery, the union has postponed a decision on whether or not to support the introduction of postcodes here.