Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

May I put the rest of my note on the record?

My officials have also been examining the potential for An Post to offer a basic payment account. However, I understand that An Post separately indicated when it addressed the joint Oireachtas committee on 9 November that it intends to launch this service in 2017. I very much welcome the stated intention of An Post to launch this account in the future.

A programme for a partnership Government hopes that An Post, the Irish League of Credit Unions and other interested stakeholders will be asked to investigate and propose a new model of community banking which could be delivered through the post office network. In this regard, the Government programme includes a commitment to investigate, among other options, the German community banking model for the development of local public banks that operate within well-defined regions. The role of my Department will be to work with other Departments and stakeholders to examine the feasibility of this model and identify what part, if any, An Post could play in rolling out such a model in defined regions of Ireland. I understand the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, along with his officials, met recently with the Savings Banks Foundation for International Cooperation about the community banking model. My officials have also been provided with details of the proposal by Irish Rural Link. Following on from these initial contacts, my officials will work closely with the Department of Finance and other stakeholders, as required, over the coming months in progressing the commitment in a programme for a partnership Government.

The Government is therefore taking a range of measures to support the post office network to adapt to the changed business environment in which it operates. I take this opportunity to confirm this Government's commitment, as well as my personal commitment, to the post office network and the process being led by Bobby Kerr. I also put on the record of the House my gratitude to Bobby and the Irish Postmasters Union. He has done tremendous work over the last two years under difficult circumstances. This process, which is very close to completion, needs to be allowed to conclude before any commitments of a financial nature can be considered in any way by the Government. It is also important that individual postmasters are prepared to adapt to the changing business environment in which they operate and that local people and local businesses make the best use of the post office network to conduct their transactions.

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