Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

In welcoming the fact that National Irish Bank is talking about expanding business into An Post, I raise concerns that we in the Border counties have about security at and safety in post offices. I attended a meeting last night at which more people were standing outside in the rain than were inside, and there were many people inside. The meeting was held to support a local postmistress who has lost her franchise with An Post because of an armed robbery that took place there more than a year ago. In the context of more business being done through the post office network, which I welcome because it is important that post offices are as useful to the community as possible, I ask for a debate on security at post offices and along the Border. Many Border villages used to be manned by the Garda. There has been a policy recently of stationing gardaí in central locations from which they operate to the point that even the Garda station in Carrigans was robbed. It did not have closed circuit television. Although no one lost his job on that account, the postmistress is to lose her job for an armed robbery in the post office across the road.

In the context of these times of armed robberies, it is important that people such as those who turned out to support their local service and the deliverer of that service are supported completely by An Post and the Garda to ensure safe delivery of that service. The point made last night by many who operate other post offices is that while one person may be in trouble today, it could be any of them tomorrow. Maximising security is important in the context of advocating that business people put more cash through the post offices.

What is the current position of the legislation to regulate sun beds that was promised by the Minister for Health and Children? I hope it will be forthcoming at an early date, perhaps even by the end of this term, because such legislation has been introduced in the North to regulate sun beds, especially for those under 18 for whom their use is exceptionally dangerous.