Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I honestly do not blame the Minister of State for being annoyed and shouting and roaring that he is not responsible.

This morning's edition of The Irish Times put it well where it states: "A complicating factor within Government is that while Mr Naughten has responsibility for the overall governance of the company, the post office network comes under the authority of the Minister for Rural Development Heather Humphreys, and the Minister of State at her department, Michael Ring". Pass the parcel is not in it. The Cabinet should think about this matter and dedicate time to considering it and stop playing games with the rural post offices because that is what is going on. There is no direct responsibility for what is happening. I mentioned earlier the plethora of committees and reports and, in the meantime, ordinary people on the ground are suffering. Never mind the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphrey's grand opening of her rural development scheme, with €12 million for 600 towns and villages. That is great. It is an average of €20,000 for each of them, but while she is doing that the Government is winding down the delivery of services to rural Ireland and no Minister is taking responsibility for it. There must be an urgent discussion at Cabinet and some person has to be the fall guy for what is going on here.

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