Mr. Sean Martin:

Normally, the business environment is for five years. Beyond that, from our point of view it would be difficult. Can the post office play a role in ten to 15 years' time? We believe it can. It can play an important role as the connection between Government, as the Deputy said, and the citizens and electorate. The Deputy is dead right. We are proud of what our members do on a daily basis and of the difference they make to so many people, including the marginalised and less well-off in society. The help they give them to get through the day is enormous. It is unpaid work and, in the words of Mastercard, it is priceless. For €15 million per year, we can ensure for the next five years - that is the horizon we can look at - that we have 845 post offices delivering in communities, as well as delivering for individuals, delivering connection, delivering for local businesses, delivering for the marginalised and, particularly, delivering for the State. That is the important thing. This is an investment, not a subsidy. This is an investment with a return - Grant Thornton has said this - of €700 million in social dividend to the Government. That is a huge investment. Is there a future for the post office network in five years' time? Who knows? We think we will still be important.