Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I also wish every person who works in this place, all the staff, the best possible summer holiday.

Last Thursday the Dáil voted by 73 votes to 39 for a motion opposing closure of the Cork mail centre and in support of saving the 240 jobs there. The overwhelming vote was supported by Deputies of 11 different parties or groups and was opposed by members of two. The motion called on the Minister to instruct An Post to reverse the closure. The Minister claims he cannot do that and that to do so would be illegal. I challenge that but I will not get into that today.

The Minister is sole shareholder of the company. What is he prepared to do on this? Is he prepared to call in the chief executive officer and inform him of the vote and its serious character? Is he prepared to inform him that he and the Tánaiste are gravely concerned about the situation? Or is he going to continue to do nothing on this in defiance of the wishes of the Dáil and of the workforce, many of whom are the Tánaiste's constituents?

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