Mr. Jim O'Keeffe:

The proof of the pudding on the An Post piece is that we do millions of transactions through An Post today. Notwithstanding what we were embarking on with the new initiative, we had already built up the transactions we do with An Post over a long number of years and very successfully. Customers find it positive from the perspective that the post offices are open for longer hours and on Saturday mornings, so there are a lot of benefits from working with An Post. When we have gaps in our own service we are able to point to An Post as a support. I am not arguing with the Deputy that it may not be as active a partnership in the post offices he has described. To be honest, I do not know the level of activity we have in the post offices he has mentioned but overall, millions of our transactions are done with An Post.

One of the items that will remain, as agreed at a central level with An Post, is the expansion of services that will allow people to lodge up to €50,000, withdraw up to €1,500, lodge cheques and seek coin facilities in the post offices. Notwithstanding the commitment Dr. Hunt has given to the initiative that is off the table, we will still leave in place that expansion of services and the new capability with An Post which allows customers to have a choice between An Post or AIB if they want to carry out activities during the extended opening hours or on Saturday.

In relation to the specific locations, while I cannot comment on individual locations, there was, and is, a great partnership with An Post. There was to be a transitory period as we moved to the new model which is completely off the table now. I expect that An Post was going to undertake some activities during that period of time. That is probably as much insight as I can give on that.

I assure the Deputy that we do millions of transactions with An Post. We have expanded the services with An Post and we continue to see the company as a very good partner, notwithstanding that we will be on location in our own branches, as Dr. Hunt has outlined.