Wouldn't say i'm deciding what it should be other than acknowledging the fact that it looks like it's going to happen, and there's bound to be some discussion about it. I'm leaving it to the experts to come up with the final specification, but at the same time think it shouldn't pander to location ego (the DUB4 type of thing), but wouldn't do any harm to reflect the Irish connection.

The cynic in me would also say it is partly being driven by the EU – not 100% sure but are we obliged to have a system by 2013? To start planning it now would be better than the road speed sign fiasco where Ireland left it until 3 weeks before the EU deadline (else a fine), and then rushed out and missed a good opportunity to make the roads safer.

I guess i could list a load of things it would be useful for, but amongst the obvious it could also take into account modern geo-systems which would have additional benefits for emergency service responses, route planning, and the like.

Ultimately ordinary people will be using the system so presumably part of the planning has to cater for public acceptance. If nothing else discussion at least gets people used to the idea, and those designing the system will be conscious of what it more likely to be widely accepted (usability, easy to remember etc), balanced with what has longevity and makes best use of technology.

Discussion about what a PostCode would look like is pointless if you do not know what it will be expected to do and it is to assume that those who have made the effort over several years to design something in detail have taken nothing but aestethics into account !! … but maybe aspirations and keeping people happy are all are taken into account when Governement Press Releases for the last 4 years keep rolling out an example of D04 or D02 divided into 999 areas – this is very much an aspiration rather than a statement of a design based on clear requirements!!!

This article falls into the same aspirational trap – no effort to consider actual requirements!!!