Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

What I found disappointing about the contributions to the debate on these amendments is that there has been no mention of the seismic shift that has occurred over the past decade on foot of the advent of the Internet and electronic mail. It is disappointing that Members' contributions did not mention the way in which the world has changed over the last ten or 20 years. The seven-year designation is not a derogation from competition and competitors are not precluded from entering the letter post market from 1 January 2011. However, An Post has been designated since the year 2000, that is, ten years ago, under current regulations. An Post has held a monopoly since its establishment in 1983. It is not as though this measure is something new that has appeared out of nowhere as clear signals have been given over the past ten years that this would occur.

Senator O'Reilly suggested that there might be regional disparities. Nothing in the legislation suggests there would be regional disparities and the Senator is simply throwing up something that has no basis in the legislation as proposed. It is important to put on the record that universal service continues. There has been lengthy discussion, deliberation and debate on what would be an appropriate length of time and after the seven-year designation, ComReg is charged with reviewing the market and ensuring the universal service provision. As five-day delivery and clearance is guaranteed by the Bill and the directive, I consider seven years to be an appropriate timeframe. In designing the new framework, one must be cognisant of two key objectives, namely, the maintenance of universal service and the promotion of competition and innovation, and this Bill strikes a balance between them.

On the issue of amendment No. 16a, it does not exactly match Senator O'Reilly's suggestion to delay a ComReg decision not to designate before the Oireachtas. However, the proposed amendment No. 16a requires such a decision to be published in Iris Oifigiúil and for both the Minister and the European Commission to be notified, all in the interests of increased transparency.