Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

That is true. To return to the amendment, Deputy Ó Cuív knows as well as I do that fashion changes. Some of things that were everyday occurrences in rural Ireland 30 years ago have changed dramatically. He knows that the marketplace here will change as well. He knows that change is coming down the tracks at the post office everyday and that it is in the interests of the postal service that An Post maintains flexibility in terms of its ability to adapt to those changes in the marketplace.

Deputy Ó Cuív's amendment would make the position of An Post less flexible and it would make the obligations on ComReg less flexible. It would put An Post into a straitjacket, so to speak, in terms of its capacity to adapt to the changes coming down the tracks. For that reason I regret that I cannot accept the amendment.

Section 16(3) relates to ComReg's power to review the minimum weight limits in regard to the clearance, sorting, transport and distribution of postal packets that a designated universal postal service provider must provide. The directive sets out the parameters within which this minimum can be set - a range between 10 kg and 20 kg. The Bill sets the minimum weight at 20 kg, which is the minimum requirement set out in the current postal regulations and allows, rather than requires, ComReg, by order, to reduce that to 10 kg. In considering any change to the weight limits allowed, ComReg must take into account the reasonable needs of users and also must hold a public consultation in advance of making any change. There are therefore a number of built-in safeguards relating to any decision that ComReg might make to change the weight limits.

Deputy Ó Cuív's proposed amendment would remove a certain flexibility from the regulation of the market which is required to meet the evolving needs of users. This need for flexibility is particularly pertinent in regard to the parcels market which is fast becoming one of the more dynamic sections of the postal business. The reasonableness of this section, as drafted, was supported on Committee Stage by Deputy Harrington based on his experience and knowledge of the sector. I do not propose to amend this section as proposed.

See this speech in context