Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to invite the Minster for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern, to come before the House to outline his policy on the future of An Post, particularly the downgrading of local post offices to be operated on an agency basis and the proposed provision of letterboxes at the end of laneways – which would be detrimental to rural areas – and to allay fears that the five day delivery service will be reduced to a three day service. I will give an example of where this has occurred. The Cathaoirleach comes from a rural constituency and he will appreciate the impact of this development.