John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

There is a great deal of unanimity across the House on this issue. As someone from a rural area which has lost its local post office in the past 18 months, it is a topic close to my heart. In fact, Phelan's post office in Tullogher was owned by my cousin so its closure represented the end of an element of family history.

I join with previous speakers who have expressed concerns in this area. Rural representatives have witnessed the continued denuding of services in their areas. The local post office is often one of the last remaining services in many rural communities. The Government should consider proactive measures to ensure that as many rural and urban post offices as possible can remain open into the future.

Previous speakers have referred to the 420 paper offices in operation throughout the country which have not yet been computerised. This is unacceptable in this day and age. The computerisation of any office is not as complicated or costly an issue as it was in the past. If An Post is serious about maintaining its presence in many rural and urban communities, there is no excuse for having 420 post offices that are not fully computerised. I also agree it is unacceptable that 450 postmasters are earning less than the minimum wage.

It is time for the Government to consider the approach taken in the UK whereby, as part of its public service delivery commitment, the Government has stepped in and funded the provision of post offices in many parts of that country. If we are serious about maintaining the service in small rural and urban communities throughout the country, we must be prepared to put our money where our mouth is. I say this as somebody who is not a socialist. I am also somebody who is not traditionally an admirer of some of the stances taken by various trade unions over the years.

However, I was on Molesworth Street to support the postal workers because their action was correct. The treatment meted out to them by An Post in the past number of years is utterly unacceptable. I have no qualms in saying I am 100% behind them in the action they took and in the substance of their complaint. To ask one sector of a workforce to forgo a duly deserved pay award under the Sustaining Progress agreement is indefensible by management or Government. The Government has not tried to defend it. I urge the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to take a more active, hands-on approach at the earliest possible opportunity. There is a danger the situation could spiral out of control.

Senator Brian Hayes spoke about the €43 million loss that has just been posted by An Post. There is no possible excuse in this day and age as to how a company in such a position could post such poor returns, particularly when one takes into account that its employees have had to endure a pay freeze. Where has the money gone? It is the clearest example I have seen of pathetic management. I am normally slow to point the finger in one direction but in this instance it is obvious to any objective observer that the management has let the company down.

It is especially disappointing because the postal service is such an integral part of so many communities. The post office and the postman's deliveries represent a social outlet and source of social contact for many. There are people who have no opportunity to speak to another person throughout the day and whose only social interaction takes place with the postman. Every Member of the Dáil and Seanad is well acquainted with the postman who delivers his or her significant volumes of mail. The possibility that this service will be curtailed and that the social aspect of the physical contact it entails may cease to exist in what are mostly rural and certainly vulnerable communities is something we cannot allow to happen. I urge the Minister to take whatever measures are necessary to prevent such a development.

Other Members have observed that an entire range of services is not provided in post offices in which such provision is possible. I will not go through a list of items but some of them are simple issues relating to local government. Senator MacSharry mentioned the payment of motor tax and local authority rent, for example. Facilities for these types of payments could easily be accommodated in post offices. It simply requires some imaginative thinking on the part of local government as well as the Government to ensure the post office remains a focal point for communities throughout the country.

I am deeply saddened to say that I am somewhat fearful for the future of An Post as we know it. It is a vitally important company which does a tremendous service throughout the length and breadth of the land. I urge the Government not to stand back and let it slip away. Hands-on, proactive efforts must be made to ensure this vital public service remains an integral part of society into the future.