Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The fact is that the Government has continuously dragged its heels in announcing a sustainable plan for the future of the post office network. The programme for Government committed to act swiftly on the recommendations of the Post Office Business Development Group and expand provision into such areas as motor tax and the new payment account system. The Minister is a signatory to the programme for Government. He entered into discussions with Fine Gael about the creation of a programme for Government. He represented rural Deputies, as a result of which he finds himself in Cabinet, so I do not accept that he can somehow wash his hands of responsibility to the post office network and just talk about the corporate responsibility, financial viability and position of An Post as the shareholder of the company. That is fine. That is his fiduciary duty as a Minister acting on behalf of the State as the shareholder. However, he is a signatory to the programme for Government and a Minister with a responsibility to the wider rural community based on his negotiations with Fine Gael. I put it to him that it is incumbent on him to act in good faith on behalf of the people of the rural areas who believed this Government was serious about acting in a manner that would protect the network as it currently exists.

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