Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Pigot and all the witnesses for their comprehensive presentations. I will start with some questions for a number of the witnesses and I might move on to another member before I ask Mr. Pigot to answer them. If it is possible he might bank the questions as members ask them.

I will address my first questions to Mr. Kerr. Do I take it from his report that he is recommending the closure of 80 post offices over the four-year proposed plan? Is that the limited exit strategy he referred to and, if so, has he identified any particular ones or how did he arrive at that figure?

Mr. Kerr might expand on what the €56 million Government investment figure would be spent on. He recommends definitively that motor tax should be one of the services provided by An Post but he is vague on other services. Was that intentional? Does he see that as something that should be resolved at a lower level within An Post?

Mr. McRedmond of An Post indicated in his submission that the Kerr report does not go far enough to be an implementable plan and it does not provide the funding solutions maintaining the integrity of An Post. What do you mean precisely by that? Will he give an honest opinion on what needs to happen in order for An Post to be on a sound and secure footing? Will Mr. Pigot speak more about the effects of increasing the headline tariff for households who only post a few items per year? Is there international evidence on that?

With regard to the Department, coming back to Mr. Pigot's point this evening, the vast majority of losses in the mail service come from registered post and international mail. If those two items were addressed, the loss in domestic mail could be more easily managed. Was that part of the consideration when considering removing the cap? With regard to the Irish Postmasters Union, the Kerr report recommends three different categories but is the union in favour of them? They are retail, service and community. Will the witnesses expand on the consequences of those post offices categories for the Irish Postmasters Union? The report identifies a lack of consensus with regard to the role of postmasters. Do the witnesses agree with this or what measures do they feel should be put in place to ensure there is greater consensus among postmasters?

I will ask Deputy Dooley to contribute before reverting to witnesses.