David Norris (Independent)

When watching the start of the debate in my office, I found it to be unbelievably dreary with no passion to it. There was a little spark from Senator Martin Brady because he spoke of his experiences as a postman.

Senator Quinn, to whom I am grateful for sharing his time, speaks with some authority on the matter as a former chairman of An Post. He spoke from the heart and said virtually what I wish to say in defence of post offices, particularly rural ones. My grandfather, who was a distinguished scion of an old Gaelic princely family and was swindled out of most his land by relatives, had many jobs including auctioneering and being the local postmaster.