Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

It is not in order for me to issue directions to An Post that would interfere directly in matters that are before the Labour Court. Therefore, I have not issued any directions per se. I have met with the management of An Post four or five times since I became Minister. The Department officials also meet with An Post on a regular basis. An Post management is aware of my views on a range of topics, including the need for An Post to resolve the difficulties that it has internally, especially in the area of postal delivery. I have spoken privately and publicly to management about where I see the future of the post office and about the necessity to modernise. I did that as recently as last Saturday at the IPU conference.

I am not directly privy to the talks which the Deputy mentioned. The talks process finishes today or tomorrow and a report will be prepared for the Labour Court, which will make its recommendations after that. There were 84 points of contention that will hopefully be resolved with recommendations from the Labour Court. I cannot discuss that which might be discussed at Cabinet, other than to say the annual report of An Post was recently before the Government and there was a general discussion on it.

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