Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

An Post bank should be synchronised as much as possible with a network of independent community banks, to be established as soon as possible. It should be strictly prohibited from engaging in speculative lending or anything along those lines.

Along with An Post bank, there are many other supports and innovations that can be implemented. However, it is clear that the demise of the revenue stream from the social welfare contract, which was worth €60 million to the network, can only be realistically sourced through a substantial project such as the An Post bank, which I have just outlined.

I point out at this time the help, encouragement and assistance that has been given by my colleagues in the Rural Independent Group and by one individual in particular, Mr. Tom O’Callaghan, who has been relentless in his efforts over the past four to five years in researching the issues and informing this and previous Governments on the importance of the post office network, the challenges it faces and the opportunities and solutions that remain to sustain the network. I acknowledge his efforts, good work, the way he has kept us informed at all time and the nights he has come not just to County Kerry, but around the country, to support our postmasters.

I also acknowledge at this stage Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Labour, Sinn Féin and the other Independents. I give credit where credit is due. I acknowledge it is in the programme for Government and I say thanks very much for that. I thank everybody who worked together, including Tom O'Callaghan. It is vital the Government implements its commitment in the programme for Government in the short term, because otherwise it will be past the point of no return - offices will close and communities will be affected socially and economically. Future generations will not thank the Government for failing to avail of this last chance to keep this lifeblood of the micro-economy pumping. This is a moment of reckoning, a decision that will not just save a State institution that is older than the State itself but a decision that is part of an overall vision of our society, one that is viable, equitable and sustainable. I call on all parties in Government to do what they can and what they have agreed already in the programme for Government, which is to implement a viable plan for the post office network.

I always acknowledge the work that is done by people if they do it in good faith. Everybody knows, because I have been very public about it, that I have been very disappointed over the years with the Irish Postmasters' Union, IPU. Many of the postmasters around the country felt let down by the IPU. They were disappointed that, when I, Deputies in this group and people like Tom O'Callaghan were fighting to keep our post offices open, other people in the IPU were talking about pay-offs for people to close down and for postmasters to retire.

I represent the postmasters, as does my colleague from Kerry and all the other people from throughout the country. The postmasters we represent do not want to close their doors. They want their doors to remain open in order that their children, nephews, nieces and future generations can run their post offices. We want our doors to be open and we want our lights to be on. We will do it whether with the help of the Irish Postmasters Union or otherwise.

I thank Members of all political persuasions for their efforts thus far. I hope that in years ahead people will look back and say that the politicians came together and used their heads and intelligence to arrive at the point where they saved the post office network. That is all we want to do. No one politician is claiming credit for it. Everyone in the House is doing this job. I say as much with the history of the great postmasters over the years in mind. Those people gave great service in bad times. I remind the Minister of State and the Acting Chairman that they did so for poor money. The Minister of State, Deputy Ring, knows that the great postmasters gave great service in our communities for small money.

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