Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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My personal belief is that the engagement process is a sham. They give this impression of a public consultation which does not exist. They say to local communities to submit information as to why their local post office is so important, but at the end of the day it is very hard to know how they make a decision between two different post offices. I give Galway as an example where they still have not been able to prove to me why post office A is different from post office B. Would Mr. Griffin not have an issue, when a postmaster passes away or retires, that the licence is taken back immediately? Someone may be happy to take over the licence and need 12 months to prove it as a viable business but that does not seem to be the way An Post is working with this situation. It seems to operate by getting its hands on the licence, taking it back and making applicants for the licence jump through hoops for six months before telling them if they like the idea or not. Would the Department not have an issue with that sort of consultation?