Áine Collins (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. It is welcome that the standard bank account will be available in 2014. If we are to be more IT friendly and include rural areas in the process, that is an important step forward. An Post has an important role to play for many reasons. As the Minister of State said, we want to have the standard bank account, the service available in the community and to keep post offices open. The post office is probably one of the last links in rural areas and it is important that we keep them open and make them viable. I am delighted to hear that AIB is strengthening its relationship with An Post. I ask about the other pillar bank in the State. Will there be engagement between An Post and the other banks or will it be left to AIB? Will An Post be part of the clearing system? Is this seen as the way forward to enable it to operate bank accounts or can it operate as it is whereby an AIB customer can use An Post to carry out some of his or her transactions, as the Minister of State mentioned?

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