Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The honest answer to that question is that I did not, but it sounds like an idea that is worth examining. In that case I did not do what the Deputy suggested, but I have made several suggestions because the post office network has a unique retail infrastructure. I understand there are still 1,144 offices of one kind or another nationwide, which is in itself immensely valuable. However, while the point about the HSE raised by Deputy Naughten had not occurred to me, it strikes me as being worth examining. The business to which he referred from the Department of Social Protection last year was worth approximately €59 million to An Post and, consequently, is highly significant. Deputy Naughten must accept that I cannot simply decree that An Post will be the front office for Government services nationwide. I have obligations in respect of competition law, State aid and all the rest but, subject to normal procurement and so on, there is a great deal more that An Post can do as a front-of-house service for Government services.

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