Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Christmas is approaching and it is in the spirit of that season that I raise the whole matter of shopping local. There are many local and national initiatives encouraging us to see what is available around us and to buy local. Indeed, last Saturday was small-business Saturday. I was at our local Foxford Christmas craft fair, which has been going on for years. What is notable about it is that it sells all Irish crafts, produce and so on. I believe it is a very good time to look at small shops and businesses to see how we can support them.

I rise to highlight a particular matter that I feel is flying in the face of this, which is An Post's promotion of the AddressPal card. In promoting the card, they are encouraging people to shop on UK websites. They are promoting it by way of a competition in conjunction with TV3's "Exposé". I am a fan of TV3's "Exposé" and I am a fan of An Post, but I question the timing of it. The advertisement encourages people to shop on UK websites, enter a competition and have the chance of winning a sterling currency card from An Post. Five people could win £500 sterling in cards. An Post is a State company. At this time of year, State agencies and all of us should be trying to look at what we can do for our local economy. I believe this flies in the face of that. I understand that An Post is in very difficult financial times. I understand that this initiative is to enable An Post to compete with couriers and try to reclaim some business. If people are shopping on UK websites, they might not have a UK address and therefore cannot shop.

We all like to see our hometowns and villages looking Christmassy. The people who are making sure that the lights are put up are the local businesspeople, in conjunction with the councils and local development groups. They are the people who sponsor the local football kit, who sponsor the local festivals and who give part-time jobs to people's sons and daughters. As I said, I know the difficulties of An Post but I do not think its timing is right. I also question TV3's part in it at this time of year. I think it may be slightly unpatriotic. We could all examine and look at what is around us in local shops by checking them out. Of course, we are all free to shop where we want. It is our money. However, perhaps that would give the extra boost that would help our local shops and high streets to continue in business.