Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last week, I offered to sit on Friday to have other debates and try to get things moving. I have always believed that the two and a half days the House sits cannot cover everything at particular points in time.

I have stated that repeatedly but it has fallen on deaf ears for a long time.

On questions on promised legislation, Fianna Fáil will support the establishment of a post office network removal process to build on An Post's existing five-year strategy for the network. That is addressed in the programme for Government in regard to post offices and community banking. The post office network has been debated in this House for many years. The Taoiseach may be aware that in the wake of the Labour Court hearings last year An Post confirmed it would be closing one of its mail centres. The staff in the existing centres in Dublin, Athlone, Portlaoise and Cork are very concerned. Up to 200 people could be laid off as a result of that decision. Has the Minster, Deputy Bruton, as a shareholder, engaged with An Post on this specific issue? Surely, the Government should be doing all it can to avoid the loss of 200 jobs in any particular centre. The staff in all four are very anxious-----

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