Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The Senator was laying it on with the trowel when he referred to three-teacher schools in rural Ireland closing. I do not know too many three-teacher schools that are closing. Indeed, the demographics are healthy, in that the numbers are going the other way. I should also take this opportunity to inform Senator Ó Clochartaigh that I will determine whether I can publish the Cahill report before he returns in the autumn. He should keep an eye on the newspapers in August.

The threat to the post office does not come from the Bill. I agree with Senator Cullinane's remarks about the role played in rural Ireland by the post office but online postal services alone will not replace what An Post is losing in terms of revenue from conventional post. Therefore, the post office must diversify. For example, it has a unique infrastructure of retail outlets, at last count 1,343 post offices spread throughout the country. Not too many organisations have this type of infrastructure. Given that the banks are retrenching and do not want to provide over-the-counter services, there is a role for An Post. It has made a start in this regard and its link with the National Treasury Management Agency has been positive. It could play a larger role in the tailoring and provision of financial services to the average consumer. This is probably the way of the future.

Everything contained in the Bill, in particular the central tenet of retaining the universal service obligation, recognises the value of the postal service, which is at the heart of Senator Cullinane's amendment. Its whole thrust is to show that we value that and we intend to protect it.