Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome both men. We have had an interesting dialogue about a subject that is dear to all of our hearts.

As was said at the beginning, communities have an affinity with their post offices and the same happens with our neighbours in the UK. However, we all must be realistic and realise that we have a generation - and I refer to anyone under the age of 30 - most of whose members have never been through the door of a post office and in all probability will never be in one. That is not An Post's fault because it is swimming against the tide in terms of technology, which the delegation referred to earlier.

Nobody is against technology. If we were to attempt to pass a Bill to prohibit online shopping or e-mails there would be riots on the street. It is not going to happen. Technology moves on. An Post and the Royal Mail in Britain have been subject to some pain because of that. An Post has been hit on all fronts, as the technology generation is not using its services. I do not think it is always appreciated that An Post is in competition with private operators, be it in the delivery of mail or parcel post. I have met people working for the private operators who are earning the minimum wage. In fairness to An Post - or should I say, in fairness to CWU, which is a very good trade union - the standard of pay and conditions in An Post is good. In some respects An Post is operating with one hand tied behind its back, given that these operators can function with cheaper labour. I emphasise I do not apply that to all operators. It is similar to the situation of banks closing and people no longer using them. It it is quite understandable that they do not. If one can use a computer one can use online banking, and one need never set foot inside a bank again. I am one of those who is glad not to do that, because online banking is so efficient in terms of time.

The witness made the point that we cherish the postal service and that some post offices are subsidising other post offices. Whatever about our ideology - there are many things I like about Cuba, including its postal service - I do not think people here would go out in great numbers to nationalise everything and anything. It just would not happen. As Deputy Patrick O'Donovan said earlier, we might have a sentimental view about An Post but then we go home at night and do our online shopping. I saw an advertisement on television last night from multinational retailers advertising their catalogue and at the bottom of it was a statement, "Shipping free". They are using private operators and one can order what one wants online, so it is a difficult time.

My colleague Deputy Ann Phelan, who is attending a neighbour's burial, asked me to apologise that she cannot be present, but is a strong defender of An Post.