Code to address plan’s critics - Postcode introduced

OUR record in introducing change, always intended as improvements on how we conduct business — Irish Water, the HSE and, say, Seanad reform — have been shambolic.

They have frustrated service users and put well-intentioned staff in an invidious position. Sadly, they have not shown us in an encouraging, can-do light. That record unfortunately makes even the most committed cheerleader for Ireland Inc think twice about giving an unreserved welcome to yesterday’s introduction of a €27m postcode system. Ireland is one of the very last OECD countries to introduce this discipline and it must be hoped that it is fit for purpose.

Early indications however suggest a degree of caution. The Irish Fire and Emergency Services’ Association has concerns about it and the Freight Transportation Association and DHL have said they will not use it. An Oireachtas committee has been told by a range of experts that it is “unusable” An assessment by the Global Address Data Association said the scheme called to mind “old adage about a camel being a horse designed by a legislative committee”.

Despite all of those warnings Government pressed ahead with a scheme it had identified a considerable time ago. The jury is still out but early indications are not good. And, as is usual, if those concerns are confirmed, there will be no consequences for anyone. However, let us all hope the system is as good as its champions suggest it is.