Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister needs to take the initiative. We have read about the new Smart current account, but we have been discussing current accounts and so on for some time. In New Zealand, for example, Kiwibank is run by the post office network. The report to which I referred proposed the idea of close liaisons with the credit union movement. In Germany, the Sparkasse bank is headquartered in Bonn. There is a range of measures, but the Minister needs to take the lead role.

The Minister mentioned towns like Howth. My constituents, particularly older ones, were deeply concerned at the time about the possible closure, but the chief executive of An Post, Mr. McRedmond, did not seem to make a dynamic approach to our local chamber of commerce or major businesses in the area to encourage them to ensure that this key aspect of the social community framework would remain on their peninsula.

The Minister needs to take a more dynamic approach. He must publish the strategic plan, get on with matters and try to centre our post offices. The post office's operations are vital in many areas, for example, the Beara Peninsula, where they are a focal point for towns, villages and communities. The Minister needs to set an example.

The Minister referred to IT. While there is scope for a return to the parcels business, there is also considerable scope for An Post to take a leading role in terms of IT, given the question marks that seem to he hanging over some email providers, for example, Google's security.

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