Mr. Ned O'Hara:

I do not want to reiterate or go back over the ground that we have covered concerning negotiations. We are available and we want to negotiate. I just want to make one point about the reality. I deal with a lot of people on the front line every day. Consider postmasters' incomes in 2017. Some 290 people or 72% of the people who had a salary review this year got a reduction in pay, with the maximum reduction at €27,000. I got a phone call this morning from a postmistress in Limerick whose salary revision came through this month. She is due to be paid this month, and she got €600 less this month than last month. She said to me that she had plans for that €600 for Christmas. We need to translate what we are talking about in the abstract into the real lives of people. That lady is down €600 this week, next month, and for every month from here on. We want this solved quickly. We could have solved it a year ago if there had been a will to do it, either a political will or whatever will is required. We are available and we want to negotiate. Regarding the protocol that Ms Cronin referred to, we met the facilitator last Friday. We want to be in that room this week. Are other parties not available this week? We need to get in and get this done. People are hurting.