Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have been contacted by a number of people regarding, for example, the credit unions. It strikes me that there is a desire to shut down any sort of community banking. Credit unions are now not accepting deposits from savers of any more than €30,000 where they were accepting deposits of up to €100,000. That will limit their capacity to do anything.

I genuinely believe that we need to buffer the services being provided through the post office to provide an instant income for postmasters and their staff. I cannot imagine what it will be like to live in a village without a post office because of the negligence of countless Governments with respect to the crisis the witnesses have been outlining for as long as I have been in public office and, I am sure, from the time before that.

I wish Mr. O'Hara well. I am sorry I did not address Mr. O'Callaghan but I also wish him well. This committee needs to bring a strong report to Government and the people who are sitting on this committee from Government parties need to be more assertive in terms of saving our post offices.