Ms Carol Bolger:

We would view Amazon as both a competitor and a customer and we work with it. Our model is very different in how we operate, with elements such as the way we engage with and employ our staff, and decent work. It is a competitive business. Our business model factors that in. We factor for growth and for changes. Who would have ever thought that we would have this pandemic? We have had to pivot the organisation and thankfully we have survived. Similarly, with the likes of Amazon, who knows what might be coming down the tracks? Our challenge as a board and leadership team is to try to look around corners and see what is coming and make sure we keep the organisation fit for purpose. People will always have a challenge on pricing. We pride ourselves on our ability to deliver to 2.2 million addresses in Ireland every day, right across the nation. That is one of our strong points. Not every delivery company can do that but we can. We will go to the Blasket Islands or whereever we need to go. Sometimes I feel that we do not compare like with like when we look at organisations like Amazon. For our business model we look at all factors that might come into play for the future of this industry which is ever changing and very dynamic. Even on that, what happened in 2020 accelerated parcel deliveries by about ten years. We achieved a level that we did not think would happen so quickly. It is ever changing.

We have seen a change recently with things improving slightly and retailers reopening so there was a drop in parcels. That is increasing again now for Christmas. We are learning all the time and building our business model around those kinds of models and natural things that happen.