Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I move amendment No. 24:

In page 26, to delete lines 7 and 8.

There was an interesting debate at Committee Stage on An Post handling of international mail and the levels of remuneration it receives for this mail. I undertook at Committee Stage to have a look at the issue again.

To remind Deputies, terminal dues is the mechanism used by national postal operators to settle with each other for the delivery of international service mail. In terms of international mail, given the reciprocal nature of terminal dues agreements, the handling of mail between national postal operators is inherently different to handling mail from non-designated or private postal service providers and consolidators who manage companies' large mail requirements. The directive acknowledges this difference by distinguishing between the regulation of tariffs for universal services generally and the regulation of terminal dues. I therefore concluded that the link between special tariffs and terminal dues was not appropriate and that section 28(5) should be deleted. I hope this meets the arguments advanced by Deputy Deering on the last occasion and Deputy Olivia Mitchell and others.

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