John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I have no doubt if the management of the transport of 12 million names and addresses were left to An Post, the article would arrive on time and to the correct recipient. While we are sorry our neighbour is experiencing difficulties with its postal service, we take pride in our own.

The Government is committed to a nationwide postal system that ensures all customers, both business and residential, have access to a high-quality and competitively priced service. The progress made to date by An Post in respect of its recovery strategy and change programmes is a key factor underpinning improvements in quality of service. This reflects the commitment in the programme for Government to improved quality of service and the maintenance of a strong and viable post office network. It is clear that the Government is strongly in support of the national postal service.

An Post has a long and proud tradition of public service and a strong interest in what happens in rural as well as urban areas. The company currently deals with the provision of service under the universal service obligation, the equally significant issue of EU liberalisation of postal services and the ever present matter of meeting important commercial imperatives. Each of these is as relevant to An Post's activity in urban areas as it is in the rural environment.

There are several reasons to commend An Post. Its workers do a wonderful job. As many speakers said, each of us has established a rapport with our postmen. In many cases, they remain the centre of communities that have changed in many ways through the years. The postal service is a perennial feature and its reliability is something we have come to expect and appreciate.

I commend the improvements in the next day delivery levels achieved by An Post. I commend the company on securing new business for the post office network, such as the payment of Garda fines and utility payments, the provision of AIB banking facilities and the introduction of e-parcel cards. In addition, the Government has approved the launch of Postbank. I commend An Post on the progress made by management and unions in the implementation of change programmes to prepare for the challenges posed by liberalisation and electronic substitution. In any instance of liberalisation, there must be a level playing field. This means that any potential supplier must provide services in both rural and urban areas in order that An Post is not at an unfair disadvantage.

The commitment of the Government to the post office network is clear in terms of the arrangements with the Department of Social and Family Affairs for social welfare payments and with the National Treasury Management Agency for retail savings products. An Post has become significantly more than a provider of postal delivery services. It has expanded its capabilities. I am thinking about Komplett, a leading European e-commerce business with Internet shops in ten countries. Last year the company received an order every 36 seconds through these shops. For the Irish market, all orders are shipped from a warehouse based in Holland and the company's goal is to serve the customers, naturally, in the best possible manner. An Post is a strategic partner here and the company has noted this arrangement has improved the quality of distribution. Customer satisfaction has also improved.

Another concept which might not come to mind so quickly is DVD by mail. Screenclick is Ireland's leading DVD mail order company, bringing customers' favourite films directly to their homes. The business is entirely dependent on an efficient delivery partner for rental and returns. An Post has delivered large quantities of these DVDs with no slowdown in service and a quality on-time delivery.

Another e-business is Shopdirect, with more than 100,000 customers across Ireland. The company supplies everything from clothes to cameras. An Post provides the direct mail solution for most of the products, with unrivalled delivery.

We can see consistent improvement in the financial statements and profitability of the company, as well as diversification. I am sure I speak for many people in the Oireachtas in that I am delighted when I receive from An Post, on a regular basis, beautiful stamps. A member of my family has become an avid collector. We receive these gratis and they are of a very high standard, encompassing many aspects of Irish life.

I thank An Post for this, particularly the staff, who have played a strong leading role in the many years of economic development we have seen. I am delighted An Post has diversified so significantly into banking and e-payments to ensure its business continues to grow and move with the times. We should protect this through legislation and look to grow the company by ensuring it has a level playing field.