Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 10, to delete lines 17 and 18 and substitute the following:

" "universal social provider" means An Post and that An Post is retained as the only provider of the collection and delivery of letters.".

There is much concern throughout rural Ireland, particularly among those of us who live there, about the potential downgrade of An Post. There is a dependency on An Post in rural Ireland, not just as the service providing delivery of letters but as a social contact. Many areas from the tip of Donegal right around the coast have elderly people and there is no public transport or real connection with the outside world for them in particular. They are very dependent on the local postman for groceries and other connections in daily life.

That is the reason I want to see An Post retained as the only provider of the collection and delivery of letters. An Post has served us well and given fantastic service through the years. To tinker with it now and put it into competition with other providers will effectively lead to other companies cherrypicking more lucrative routes. Less profitable routes will be left to An Post, which will be strapped for cash, leaving a reduced and watered down service. I hope the Minister will take this on board and retain An Post as the main provider.

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