Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not know about that. I do not feel coming in here is a punishment. The Senator has raised an issue that is close to my heart. In my area a post office closed recently at short notice, due to a post master retiring. Unfortunately, local people, in a similar matter to those to whom the Senator referred, had to change post office. That can be very upsetting for older people, in particular, when they have to travel to another post office. There is an added difficulty when the next post office is a long distance away, which is not the case in the capital city. I take that into account.

I will relay the concerns expressed by the Senator to the Minister. It is somewhat unknown for me to agree with many things, but I agree with the Senator that it is very bad when An Post cannot relay, through the Office of the Minister, why a post office is closing. It is a real difficulty across the country. I am not in the camp of the Minister, Deputy Naughten, but I am privileged to represent him here today.