Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

As an example, the Senator and other Members know we communicate with those we represent by post. I am looking for quality, cost and a service that responds to the needs of the user. When it comes to delivering communications to the people of Dún Laoghaire, I look to a company that can provide a layer of sophistication on delivery. I would love to think An Post can compete on cost, quality and response to my demands. Sadly, at certain times in the past, An Post has said to me that I cannot specify geographic areas because the company uses different areas. I have asked An Post to deliver in late November and it said it could not, that its deliveries operated differently. That flexibility is needed. I am dying to get An Post to deliver the communications I have, and on many occasions I use An Post but there is an issue of quality, cost and response to the users' demands. It is not an issue of the good postmen and women on the ground, it is an issue of middle management where we need the flexibility, adaptability and a response to the user. I see it in the private sector and I want to see it happen within An Post and if it does happen, An Post can and will deliver to a degree where it can do much better than the private sector. Like Senator O'Toole, I want the State to do things when it can and I want to see the State show that flexibility and adaptability and hold its head high on these issues. It will not happen as easily, however, if there is a 20 year derogation.