Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

Question 73: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the Government will respond to the new proposal by European Commissioner, Mr. Charlie McCreevy, on abolishing the reserved areas for national postal operators for letters below 50 g; his views on the concerns of Ireland's EU partner states such as France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Belgium and Greece that Commissioner McCreevy's proposal will weaken customer service in the postal sector and lead to thousands of jobs losses; the way or the model by which he proposes to maintain the universal service obligation; if he will establish a new comprehensive postal services strategy to ensure that An Post is robust enough to meet the challenges of the fully liberalised market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39126/06]

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