Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to support An Post and the post office network. The Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment and others have recently suggested responsibility for television licence fee collection be transferred to the Revenue Commissioners. Last week the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, announced a loan of €35 million to support An Post. It is a loan and must be repaid. Does the Taoiseach know what he is doing? One hand is taking food from the other. If we do this, small post offices throughout the country will lose more of their revenue, fail every sustainability test An Post puts in their way and be closed. On the one hand, the Taoiseach is closing post offices and, on the other, letting on that he is supporting them.

See this speech in context