Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

During the pandemic, we have seen the importance of our post office network. We saw what happened with the banks leaving rural Ireland. In many places the post office has also left because you cannot get postmasters to come in and replace outgoing or retiring postmasters. That is something we need to have a real conversation about. I thank Ms Bolger and her staff.

I have another meeting that I must go to at 4.30 p.m. so I thank Ms Bolger and Mr. Laverty for being here and wish them well.

We need to have a conversation about our post office network infrastructure, particularly in rural Ireland. We have a society that is migrating more online. It worries me when I see people talk about Black Friday and deals online. It is a contradiction given that An Post is delivering parcels but we should support local. I see our post offices as being that local entity.