Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 15, between lines 41 and 42, to insert the following:

"(2) In regulating the postal market the Commission must take into account the unique value that post offices have in Ireland, with its substantial rural population and that particular care should be given to ensure that the interests of a competitive market will not take precedence over, or put at risk, the network of post offices which are part of the fabric of our community and which are essential in maintaining social cohesion.".

I will not delay the House because we are going round in a circle with this Bill. This amendment seeks to ensure the commission, otherwise known as ComReg, takes into account in all its decisions the value of the post offices and the nature of the country we are legislating for, and that it would not make decisions that would jeopardise that fabric. It is important to provide for that in the Bill. We cannot over-emphasise the need, in the national interest, to try to direct ComReg from this House in the direction we see fit. Most people believe that for the vulnerable in society especially, those who do not use digital media, the post office is an important service and that should be taken into account in all decisions made by the commission.

See this speech in context