Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The increase proposed by ComReg would bring the price of a postage stamp to more than €1. Given that ComReg does not regulate or set the price of stamps, perhaps Mr. O'Brien might articulate a little more clearly what role it has in this regard. If it merely sets a cap, how is that cap reached?

I would like An Post management to address what will happen if the price of a postage stamp is increased by up to 38% in the absence of a marketing strategy and the full implementation of the Kerr report. I do not think these issues can be separated. Unfortunately, two different Departments are responsible for the network and for An Post. The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is responsible for An Post and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is responsible for the network. I do not think they can be separated. The recommendations of the Kerr report and the business development group need to be implemented quickly. I suggest the imposition of a significant increase in the price of postage in the absence of the implementation of those recommendations would be counterproductive because it would turn people away from postal services.