Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

The points being made are very good. The Minister has declared that he is in favour of a universal postal service and that this is his motivation. The aim of everything being said is to strengthen this position. Frankly, he would have been better off if he had introduced the Bill six months ago because I see eight candidates in the Chamber and he has seen nothing yet. Representatives of the Communications Workers Union are in Buswells Hotel at present, with every other candidate. I can tell the Minister for a fact that this will be the major issue in the final days of the Dáil because it is absolutely crucial. I can also assure him that every postman in knocking on every door will know who voted for the Bill.

I have experience of working in the Department and enormous progress has been made in An Post, particularly with regard to its distribution centres. They are absolutely phenomenal. I worked at the Department when the centre in Sheriff Street was in operation, when the Minister was a child. In Sheriff Street a bar was open all day and all night. Senator Quinn knows this because he was chairman when I was at the Department.