Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

There is a somewhat simplistic portrayal in the media of the degree or lack of contact over quite a long period with the families concerned. The impression given that there has been no contact by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform or others on his behalf is not fair.

I pressed during the summer for a debate on postal services because many issues in this regard ought to be debated, including ongoing industrial relations difficulties. We need a comprehensive debate on An Post. If the hook on which to hang this is to debate the annual report of An Post, that would be one way of doing it. It is high time a Minister came to the House to make a statement on the matter.

With regard to air services at Shannon, I understood that the whole point of the break-up of Aer Rianta was that there would be competition between airports, which seems to be happening.