Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

An Post wants to dump letters that do not have enough stamps. This was stated in a story by Aideen Sheehan in Monday’sIrish Independent.Under new terms and conditions, An Post wishes to impose this practice on customers. This was certainly never done when I was in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. At that time, it was sacred that a letter should be delivered to a person and that if there was an inadequate number of postage stamps on it, the recipient had the option of paying what was owed. An Post is proposing change. ComReg is now considering this and has expressed deep concern about it. Its consultation is to conclude by 20 May. Could the Seanad have a say on the proposals An Post has laid before ComReg and have an input into the regulations before 20 May? It would be very influential and, in a sense, assist ComReg in deciding on such major issues, including the delivery of cash and the insuring of cash sent through the post, and other issues affecting the delivery of postal services.It would be a useful exercise. A consultation process of the type proposed does not provide Members of this House with an opportunity to put forward their ideas. It would be worthwhile for the Seanad to express its views on issues such as this and for those views then to be conveyed to ComReg. It would be appalling if a letter sent without sufficient stamps was to be dumped without the person to whom the letter was addressed being given an opportunity to pay the additional cost required. I have always been of the view that there are too many stamps going through the system without proper checking. An Post, in not having in place an adequate system to ensure all envelopes are properly stamped, is losing a great deal of revenue. The company needs to undertake a review of its equipment, with a view to ensuring usage of the correct number of postage stamp to ensure it is being paid for its delivery service.