Joe O'Toole (Independent)

During the past 20 years, Senator Ross and others on these benches have tabled the idea of an appointments procedure in respect of State boards. The Leader will recall that in the Seanad review, we proposed that the House should vet or meet anyone whose name had been put forward to sit on boards or in the chair of a semi-State body.

I do not want to reflect on the person in question, as he might be the person for the job, but there is a lack of trust and confidence. This is not the way to do business. It is an embarrassment to the Government and a bad start to the new approach to transport. We should urge the Government to establish a committee in the House to vet those put forward to sit on State boards or to chair semi-State bodies.

Will the Leader invite the appropriate Minister to address the House on An Post? Recently, a delegation from the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service returned from a trip to New Zealand where we met with the Kiwibank, which is owned by New Zealand Post and is profitable after four years in operation. It is opening branches in parts of the country where the main banks have closed and it is giving new life to local communities. A state-owned body, it provides a fantastic service and people are switching accounts to it in their droves. In terms of the future of rural Ireland and its post offices, it would be a helpful for the House to debate the matter.