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

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. The post office network and its maintenance have been matters of debate or discussion in this Chamber for 20 years or more. I will be bringing forward legislation - I hope it will be taken in this Dáil session - that will change the memorandum of understanding of An Post to ensure there is a universal obligation for An Post to maintain the business network as it currently is. Anything else only amounts to paying lip service to the post office network. I have always said that unless we have measures enshrined in legislation to the effect that the post office network must be maintained, retail outlets in communities throughout the country will continue to dwindle. We have seen what the Department of Social Protection has done in recent times. In a debate in this House in early spring of this year, we were informed by the Minister of State in that Department that the letters in question had been withdrawn by the Department. However, all the new social welfare reforms encourage people to use banks rather than the post offices. The point I am making is that regardless of the rhetoric or goodwill that exists in terms of the post office network, if the Government continues to encourage the preference for banks rather than using the post office network, we are at nothing.

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