Seanad debates

Tuesday, 26 July 2011

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages

 

7:00 pm

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I regret that at this late stage it is not possible for me to accept the amendment. I explained why I considered that any restriction on the commercial role of An Post is undesirable. Listening to some of the contributions - I identify with many of the sentiments - it is clear that speakers do not accept that what I am doing is transposing an EU directive. There are central matters in which I do not have freedom to make changes that some Senators would like.

We are now in a competitive environment and the privatisation of Telecom Éireann is not analogous because we are not discussing privatisation. It is true that the country suffered economically because of a lack of investment in broadband, etc., arising from the manner in which what was Telecom Éireann changed ownership on a number of occasions and was asset-stripped. There is no intention, on my part as Minister or on the part of the Government, to privatise An Post. However, it must function in a competitive environment in future as a result of the directive so I cannot shackle it in the manner in which Senator Cullinane believes is advantageous. As we go through the amendments I will have an opportunity to reply to some of the points raised by other Senators.

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