Mr. Ned O'Hara:

A couple of questions were asked but I prefaced my remarks by saying that we did not agree with everything that was in the report. However, at the end of the day, we are probably in a position in which our members will decide whether we accept it or not.

I was asked about the three different categories of post office.

Our position is that all post offices should offer all services. We recognise that there is a difference between busy urban post offices in Dublin, Limerick or Galway and rural post offices. I also agree with Mr. McRedmond about the challenges that face us in both businesses - mail and retail. In respect of the retail business, where postmasters operate, we have gone through a process for the past two years of inviting submissions from the public. We spoke to everybody, produced a report and designed a solution. We do not agree with all aspects of the solution. There is lack of consensus on some issues in the report.

There are serious issues for us in respect of the contract and we need to get into the detail. The devil is in the detail but we need to do that now. I recognise the need for a strategic review of the company on the McKinsey report but our fear is that if we get involved in that we will be sitting here next January and nothing will have been implemented. The process relating to the report started in January 2014. It is now 2017. We have to do this now. We have to get into the detail and produce a plan. An Post needs to do some of the things that are in the report quickly. Like Senator Lombard, we recognise the threat from electronic substitution. We cannot plan. I do not know whether there will be a post office in ten or 15 years' time but I do know there will be one five years from now. We should plan for that and in three years’ time, we should plan for the following five years because the world is moving forward apace. We have invested two years in producing solutions - I was going to say we have wasted two years. We do not disagree with the big picture but we need to work out the detail now.