Mr. David McRedmond:

Our position is that this is a matter between the IPU and the Government. An Post is just a conduit. We are very conscious that we do not receive State funding. We are independent and standalone and that is very important to us. At the same time, we recognise the pressures on the network. The network is superb but inevitably, with the decline of about 32% in transactions since 2019, it is under some pressure. It has taken on major contracts for agency banking with Bank of Ireland and AIB and that is really powerful. In terms of the funding, we would certainly support the IPU getting an increase in funding but it is not a matter for us. It is a matter for Government.