James Heffernan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

This morning I listened to the Newstalk "Breakfast" show hosted by Ivan Yates. It contained an interview with Bobby Kerr, a proven successful entrepreneur, who spoke about the post office business development group. This body has been set up under the auspices of the Minister of State with responsibility for rural affairs, Deputy Ann Phelan. I commend the Government on having a Minister of State with responsibility for rural affairs to take control of such issues. In the interview the proposals were met with a certain cynicism and it seemed like shooting the thing down before it ever got off the ground. It needs to be given a chance to see how they can improve and modernise the post office network.

Rural Ireland has been dying for quite a while and it is high time it was well and truly supported. I hope this group takes on board the views of the Irish Postmasters Union, which wants to improve post office business and keep it going. We cannot underestimate the value of rural post offices, as Senator O'Sullivan has said. Even with social welfare payments, including pension payments, it gives people a social outlet - a place where they meet and can discuss the matters of the day.

The review group should be ambitious. The banking system is in a complete and utter mess. We have a network of post offices. I always said selling off ACC was a mistake. Perhaps that is the road it should go down - to increase the banking service in the post offices and maybe make it a State bank.