Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for the presentation and the work they have done over recent months to address the financial crisis in their organisation. An Post is now on a safe financial footing. That has come with some very considerable pain for the communities that have lost post offices. We should be mindful that there are people, particularly in rural Ireland, who now have a worse service than they had previously. They have to travel further to access their service. While the financial liability of An Post is on a firmer footing, thankfully, there has been a very considerable loss for parts of rural Ireland. That is especially pertinent as we try to maintain those communities and retain services.

Based on the presentation the witnesses have given, I am shocked to hear that the Government has not engaged in the utilisation of An Post's distribution channel for State services. It brings into sharp focus the crocodile tears shed by Ministers and supporters of this Government throughout rural Ireland during the very difficult period of post office closures. The support offered by the Government at the time rings hollow, particularly with the passage of time. The Government has not engaged with An Post so that more services could be delivered through its offices. It is clear that An Post has engaged because it has managed to bring financial partners on board and to deliver more services. It is doing good work around parcels. If the Government was committed to rural parts and to the services that An Post would deliver, surely these services, which are an integral part of the State's engagement with its citizens, would be available through that office that has the harp over the door. I am shocked.

Will the witnesses provide the committee, insofar as they can, with a detailed list of the services on which An Post has offered or engaged with the State? I would like some kind of chart showing where those discussions are at. It is incumbent on us to haul the relevant Ministers before this committee and expose their lack of commitment, not to An Post but to the people in rural areas who need these services that An Post is prepared to provide.

I do not want to go over ground that has already been covered. An Post recently launched an initiative around the reduction of carbon emissions and launched a fleet of zero emissions vehicles. How is that working out? Will the witnesses update us? They have covered the issue of dog licences. That is positive. It is a new service. Will the witnesses give us their view on the potential loss of the service of issuing TV licences? Do they see issues there that must be addressed?