Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Fianna Fáil group welcomes the decision by the Minister for Justice and Equality to set up an independent review. The Fianna Fáil Party called for this at the very outset of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission bugging controversy. I believe it is only right and proper that the matter should be taken out of the political arena and the truth be verified.

Yesterday I raised the future viability of the post office network. The Irish Postmasters Union has invited Deputies and Senators to a briefing later today. More questions have arisen since yesterday and all these questions raise serious concerns about the future viability of the post office network. The Government, through the Department of Social Protection and An Post, issued press statements in the past five to six week welcoming the signing of a new contract, which had gone out to tender. Both An Post and the Department of Social Protection said this would ensure the continuing viability of the post office network. However, while An Post has highlighted that the new contract will generate business worth billions for the post office network, the Department of Social Protection has made it clear it is moving toward e-commerce and electronic transfers of money. Some 83% of the client base of the Department of Social Protection have bank accounts. It costs little or nothing to transfer moneys to a bank account but I understand An Post charges the Department in excess of €300,000 in administrative charges to cash social welfare cheques through the post office network. Somebody is not telling the truth. The Department of Social Protection has made it clear that the costs being imposed by An Post are prohibitive and expensive. If that is the case, it means that 83% of the Department of Social Protection client base will in future receive their money through the banking sector and not the post office. They will then cash their money through the banks and not the post office. At present one is more likely to meet a machine than a cashier in banks.