Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is my first opportunity to welcome the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, to the House and to acknowledge his incredible intellect and ability to read a situation. This is why An Post is in good hands with him. The post office network is a strong brand. Not many people realise the variety of services that it provides. PostPoint is a strong product. The national lottery is also operated by An Post. We should move to a position whereby the post office is more a one-stop Government shop than a post office. There is no reason small financial transactions between citizens and the Government should not take place in post offices. One should be able to purchase a dog licence or pay a parking fine in the post office. Not everybody is Internet aware.

The 1,100 post offices in the network can remain financially successful. We had bad local government in the past because we did not need as many local area offices. The post office network could have managed many of the financial transactions that are currently being carried out in area offices.

I look forward to seeing the ten year strategic plan that the Minister and his officials are working with An Post to prepare. I hope the brand can be developed for the betterment of all our citizens.