Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

I met the targets I set on broadband roll-out. I have tackled the underlying problems in the fishing industry. It is a formidable record for two and a half years. The first 12 months of my ministry were spent advancing the causes adopted by the CWU and ensuring An Post reached agreement with it to ensure the survival of the postal service.

It was nice of the Irish Farmers' Journal to highlight the plight of the rural postal network. Many of its readers will also be aware that many creameries and other facilities and employment in rural areas have closed. I did not notice the Irish Farmers' Journal highlight these closures.

I am sure the IPU did not put a non-participation clause in the talks with An Post when it proposed the Fortis deal to its 1,300 members.

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