Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Penrose is a plain speaking man. To outline the situation, I put a lot of work into this over the past six months and was hoping to have the report ready for Government before Christmas. I do not have statutory responsibility for An Post, but I have been given the role by Government to see what can be done to improve the services. Mr. Kerr gave his report to An Post on 23 December. I met Mr. Kerr as well as representatives from the Irish Postmasters' Union and, on Thursday morning, I will meet Mr. McRedmond again.

I will tell the Deputy what I am doing and I will put it on the record today. I will arrange to meet with representatives from the Irish Postmasters' Union, Mr. McRedmond, who I will meet this Thursday, and my officials next week. Certain proposals have been made by Mr. Kerr and the Department is also making proposals and I hope that we can reach agreement on them.

Deputy Penrose spoke about the basic payments and community banking. Deputy Burton has tabled a question on the matter also. The Government has committed to and is examining this.

At every opportunity I get, I am like Deputy Penrose, that is, straight talking. There is no point having rural post offices if people do not use them. I listened to and watched people that never stood in a post office out protesting. They are great for protesting. They will come out when there is a protest but if they had to get a few stamps they would go into town and not get them in the local post office. I hope that we can get agreement when this report is done and that the rural community will support the post offices.

See this speech in context