Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 3, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:“Amendment of section 28 of Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011

1. The Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011 is amended in section 28(1) by the substitution of “The tariffs for each postal service or part of a postal service provided by that postal service provider in the provision of a universal postal service shall comply with the following requirements:” for “The tariffs for each postal service or part of a postal service provided by a universal postal service provider in the provision of a universal postal service shall comply with the following requirements:”.”.

I thank the Minister for his attendance. This amendment was tabled by us on Committee Stage and is designed to ensure that EU postal tariff principles apply to all postal services provided by all service providers. The main purpose of the amendment is that tariffs are affordable, non-discriminatory, transparent and related to costs. It is a somewhat technical amendment that seeks to apply that Irish postal service providers are subject to EU postal tariffs and are transparent and related to the costs of providing the service. They should not discriminate by service and they should be set in a manner that protects consumer interests. I believe we would all value the protection of consumers. The purpose of this Bill, in the first instance, is to ensure An Post, the postal delivery system in Ireland, is protected. I recognise and accept the necessity for that, but we have a responsibility, in so far as we can, to protect the interest of the consumer. The purpose of the Bill is to repeal specific powers in the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011. This amendment is simply a corollary to that change and seeks to ensure the principles of competition and fair pricing are applied across the board.

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