Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I support the deletion of the section. A reasonable criticism the public often makes is that Ireland is overly diligent, overly scrupulous and overly law-abiding in its adoption of every little piece of a directive from Europe. In other words, it is enough to take on the spirit of a directive and its broad objectives. It is sufficient to take on the concept of competition without in the process jeopardising the family silver. An Post is the family silver in this instance and is an expensive collection of silver that has been built up on foot of the investment of €100 million in the automated centres, as well as all the human investment down the years. Members do not wish to put this at risk now or to make it available willy-nilly, at literally no cost, to competitors or private institutions. I accept the principle and reality of competition and as one of the departmental officials told me informally outside the Chamber, this reality is going to visit us in January anyway. Although Members are aware of this, they are trying in the process to protect the national postal services infrastructure. It is a bit much that An Post would be obliged to make available infrastructure in non-physical form as well, such as postcodes, addresses or whatever it has built up in that regard and that it would be obliged to make available its physical infrastructure. Senator O'Toole's analogy with a shop, restaurant or whatever is good, whereby outsiders come in to use the basic material that is available. It would be in the best interests of the legislation, not contrary to the spirit of the directive and yet protective of Ireland's postal services to remove this section. Consequently, I support its removal.