Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

First, I support the motion and the proposed amendment to it. Some 62% of all the closures are along the west coast, from Kerry right up to Donegal. Some 42% are in the west of Ireland. One in six post offices to be closed are in counties Galway and Roscommon. One thing that needs to be debunked, which I hear day in and day out, is these people had a choice. The fact is they got a letter to state they no longer formed part of An Post's plans. Some of them were sick and some were elderly. Had they not a right? In every walk of life one has a right to take a pension. These people were trying to cling on for the simple reason that An Post would not give the offices to their sons and daughters in the towns and villages about which we are talking.

Every one of us here sat with Mr. McRedmond in the last few weeks. There has been no reply yet to a question he was asked, which was whether the 231 people would be given the new contract. If one of these 231 unfortunately gets sick or dies, will they be replaced? He has not answered that yet. Mr. McRedmond said no more post offices would be closing. I can tell the Minister that this evening I heard another one is to go in the constituency the Minister and I share. That is Mr. McRedmond. Everything he has said seems to have been untruths. He was asked whether there would be an extension made to the appeals process from 27 September or would the formula be changed. Each post office that is closing possesses a computer and a safe. If a business beside that office is willing to help those people and communities and to keep open a shop or a business, will the Minister make sure they are transferred?

Imelda Burke's name was mentioned. She has written to all of her people, as was rightly pointed out, and has got a great response. The Irish Postmasters Union has come out with a statement this evening. It should have been outside that door today because neither An Post nor the Irish Postmasters Union represents the people across rural Ireland. The Minister has to get involved in the appeals mechanism for the simple reason that its terms of reference absolutely will whitewash any hope of people getting a proper set-up.

There is one solution to this and it is a quick one. Deputy Dooley rightly asked whether, if there is a road in an area in which there are not many people, the potholes are fixed. He is dead right. The potholes need to be fixed. Deputy Dooley will be the driver of the lorry in the next few weeks when the budget is being put together. His party will be the one that can stand up under the confidence and supply agreement and either support the Government in closing the post offices or not.

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