Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Section 16 outlines what a universal postal service means. Among its provisions is the sorting, transportation and distribution of parcels from other member states up to 20 kg in weight. I cannot understand how a user of the service could benefit from An Post being able to say at some time in the future, with the approval of ComReg, that a package is over 10 kg in weight and therefore it does not have to carry it. How that would benefit the user escapes me. It might benefit An Post but it will not benefit the user. The regulation provides that any package weighing up to 20 kg from another member state must be sorted, transported and distributed but the Minister wants to allow for a scenario where some fine day, following public consultation and so on, and we know all about public consultations, ComReg will be able to say that if it weighs between 10 kg and 20 kg it does not have to carry it. The Minister has the gall to stand up and say that benefits the users.

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