James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I support Senator Finucane's comments on the Government's support of An Post's closure of small, rural post offices. This is having a devastating effect on rural communities, especially on elderly people living in remote rural areas. Last Monday An Post used a heavy hand to take services from Moyne post office in north County Longford. This was a shameful attack on a family that has given three generations of postal service to the community. It is wrong and should not happen. The Deputies in the midlands cried crocodile tears on the issue and pretended to set up meetings with the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey. However we know the Minister is fully behind An Post's closure of the small, rural post offices in this country. He will regret that day because people in rural areas are waiting in the long grass to attack the Government on this issue.