Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate. A considerable number have contributed to the debate on this very important Bill and stayed throughout. The comments made are reflective of the high regard people have for An Post, the work it does, its workforce and its role in rural communities throughout the country and also urban communities, as pointed out by a number of Deputies.

A number of Deputies have expressed the view that they cannot support the Bill for a variety of reasons. Clearly, none is doing so with a wish to see An Post collapse or run out of money or to see workers not being paid or services withdrawn, but the consequence of not supporting what is effectively emergency legislation to ensure An Post can continue to pay its workers and perform its duties has to be acknowledged. As pointed out in my contribution and many others, the mails business is undergoing a profound structural change, both here and abroad. Electronic substitution has had a significant impact on the letters business. We have seen the downward trend which is expected to continue, particularly for large volume postal customers such as banks and utility providers. Clearly, there are opportunities in the parcel business, as pointed out by a number of Deputies.

I wish to comment on the role of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment regarding An Post. The Department is responsible for the postal sector, including the governance of An Post, to ensure the company is fully compliant with the code of practice for the governance of State bodies and governance functions included in the statutory framework underpinning An Post. Following a Government decision earlier this year, responsibility for the post office network and the Kerr report and associated matters transferred to my colleagues in the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

See this speech in context