Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I applaud the Taoiseach for raising the concern that every new legislation should be reviewed, examined and changed if necessary to deal with this.

I attended the launch of A New Vision by the four unions of An Post. The unions include the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants, comprising principal and assistant principal officers. Will the Leader invite the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, to the House to explain why while there is 11% growth in postal services in Italy and 8% in Finland, An Post has experienced a decrease of 1.3%? The management of An Post and the unions must work together to improve industrial relations and resolve their difficulties through dialogue rather than through the Labour Court.

The report states that Ireland is the most dynamic country in Europe, it has the fastest growing population and, therefore, there should be a growth rather than decrease in postal services. The report confirms that the unions agree there must be a change in the overtime work culture of the company. I found the launch yesterday invigorating. We must get the Minister here to discuss the issue as some 13,000 are employed in An Post.