Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

We will be judged on this issue. If we see only the short-term gain of electronic transactions and do not stand up as the Government, the Oireachtas and as communities across the country and defend the rural post offices, we will lament their passing in five or ten years time and say it is possible to have a wide range of services in our rural post offices. We have other arms of the State, such as citizens advice bureaux. We should network these in because we have the offices in nearly every parish in the country. We should not be found wanting in ensuring the post offices are kept open. The Government and An Post must be committed to automating the remaining unautomated post offices without further delay.

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