Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Bradford for sharing time. This legislation has been well flagged and we have received a great deal of correspondence on it. We have had genuine concerns expressed to us by the postal workers but it is important we proceed with care and are clear on what we are doing. We must not in any circumstances undermine the postal service and its employees. They do a great job. This Bill will reshape our postal system. It will change the way our postal service is run and will create different employment conditions for our postal workers. We must not do anything to undermine them.

We had a postman in Bishopstown, Vincent O'Brien, who was the epitome of a good postman. It was not just about the collection and delivery of mail but, as Senator Bradford said, the interaction with the people and the delivery of the post with a smile. I am concerned that with increased competition will come cherry-picking and a threat to the services in rural Ireland. This Government has done a great deal of damage to rural life and it is important we examine that. Equally, it is important the regulator is held accountable to the Houses of the Oireachtas. There must be protection of what is in place.

Why is this legislation necessary? An Post is not broken. It is working well. We have the eighth lowest postage cost in the eurozone, which is extraordinary. We must not do anything to undermine what we have already. We must protect and enhance the service, and I am not afraid of competition. We have all received e-mails from the Communications Workers Union and while I will not detail what they say, it is important the issues concerning the universal service obligation and cherry-picking are addressed by Government on Committee Stage. All of us as legislators have a duty to look after the delivery of the service.

I was canvassing in Donegal at the weekend and, apart from the person delivering the post, we were the only people some residents had met. It is important we debate this Bill on Committee Stage, address the concerns expressed, bring it back to this House and make it a better Bill that will address the genuine concerns raised.