Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Senator O'Toole mentioned the document launched this morning by Deputy McHugh at the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business. It is worthy of debate in this House. I hope we will have an opportunity to debate my document on the effectiveness of Irish trade promotion abroad and the state agencies involved. I will be launching it at 12 noon in the audiovisual room and the Senators are all welcome to attend.

Will the Leader consider a debate on An Post, particularly on the fact that only 72% of deliveries are made the next day? Only Greece, Latvia and Cyprus have poorer records than Ireland. As a former Minister of State at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, I am disappointed that instead of delivering 92% of mail the next day, An Post is delivering only 72%. This is not very satisfactory and therefore the management of An Post should be examined.

I am very concerned about the threat to 500 local post offices and genuinely believe we should retain and develop the ones we have. This is possible given the new technology that is available. I am very concerned about this issue because it has affected rural Ireland and will affect my own parish, which has its own post office.