Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There has been huge debate both inside and outside this House about the post office network and what it requires. We all support the post office network but despite that, the network across the country is dwindling. It is time for a fundamental shift in policy. Earlier we referred to the obligation on the ESB to maintain its network deep in rural communities, which is an obligation imposed on the company under statutory instrument and legislation. It is time we examined the memorandum of understanding for the establishment of An Post and its management and governance and told An Post that it must maintain the network. It must be provided for in statute that An Post must maintain the network in rural communities. Then it can go after the business to make those post offices viable. What is happening at present is that services are being withdrawn, piece by piece, from An Post and the post offices are becoming non-viable both for the postmasters or the postmistresses and An Post. We must fundamentally change the way An Post is established to ensure there is a statutory obligation on it to maintain the network. After that, it can pursue the business.

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