Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I also support Senator Ryan's amendment. As a general principle I would be against such closures and such a diminution of services. It goes against the arguments that we had been making on Second Stage and in earlier amendments on Committee Stage, when we were saying the big objective was to get to everybody in this country on an equal basis, as quickly and as competitively as others, so there was no discrimination in our postal services. I see a diminution in services in what Senator Ryan cites. I would be similarly concerned that this might apply in Cavan and Monaghan, where the rural post office and the rural post box are of critical importance. It is important throughout Cavan and Monaghan that local post offices are preserved in their present form and that post boxes, which are very important, are preserved in order that people are not asked to travel for miles to post items or have them delivered. This is a concern for people. There have been post office closures in County Cavan over the years. When that happens it is sad for the communities and it knocks the heart out of the area. It is like the closure of a local primary school or Garda station. It is part of the death by a thousand cuts. It damages local pride and confidence. The Fleadh Cheoil was a successful boost to the county this year and I could see the difference it made to people. I could see the opposite in some instances, however, when I attended public meetings about post offices closing. I saw the gloom and depression it can cause. Even the loss of a post box might not seem much to us but to someone living nearby with no transport, it is a great deal. We are in such a fortunate situation that we might forget about others, not out of malice but because we are too removed from reality and are living in a bubble. This is a worthy amendment and I support it strongly.