Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

The Cathaoirleach is correct; this is an important Bill which is why I was making the point about Ardara where, in many cases, the postman or postwoman is the only person the mail recipient meets, sees or speaks to.

What does the Minister mean by " geographical conditions"? Today there would be no difficulty if mail was not delivered because one would not expect somebody to go out on in such conditions. However, does the Minister mean a geographical spot on the physical landscape such as an area off Kilmichael such as Tirelton in rural mid-Cork?

To return to what Senator O'Riley spoke about with regard to what is an appropriate installation, are we speaking about stopping service delivery and a person having to get into a car or on a bus to go to a mailbox or postbox in a post office like they do in the United States? Senator Hannigan spoke about the foyer of his apartment block; we do not expect a postman to go into every apartment complex and hand-deliver to every mailbox as, in some cases, the management fee covers the sorting and distribution of mail. I seek clarity on what is meant by a universal postal service. Senator McFadden rightly spoke about cherry-picking. The ambiguity is frightening and worrying.

The Minister also brings to the Bill the issue of weight and I am curious to know why that is the case. On occasion, one receive a card through the door stating one's mail is available for collection in the local district office if the mail is of a particular weight. Why is this mentioned in the Bill?

I am anxious that the Minister give a commitment that delivery to homes will continue. It may not be the case in Cork city or south Dublin, but in rural Ireland, in particular, it is very important that the service is continued. I look forward to hearing the Minister's response.