Warning finally heard by board

Postcode introduction

A Government board has, for a welcome change, finally heeded warnings not to press ahead with its controversial plan for a postal code service based on a nationwide unique seven-digit system involving people’s addresses rather than areas of the country. No doubt the local postman will be greatly relieved at the decision to put the contentious project on the long finger.

The apparent climbdown follows hot on the heels of a comparison drawn by some of the country’s biggest transport delivery firms between the proposed scheme and the Coalition’s self-inflicted shambles overIrish Water. Up to now, members of the board set up to introduce the scheme appear to have ignored penetrating criticism of its plans by former data protection commissioner Billy Hawkes.

Seemingly, a decision has now been taken not to go ahead with it until “satisfactory solutions” are put in place to address his serious concerns about the basis of the seven-digit code. According to Mr Hawkes, the system should be based on identifying areas rather than individual addresses. Given the strength of his warnings up to the time he stepped down in September, plus the serious level of criticism aired by such global delivery firms as DHL, the board had no other option but to put the idea on ice.

The former commissioner first expressed doubts in 2006. Not before time, the Eircode board heeded the warning.