Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House to discuss this important issue. These statements are also an opportunity to have a debate the post office network itself. The Minister outlined the significant services provided by An Post. In many ways, the Minister's statement clarified many issues regarding An Post's activity. The view was that we went to the post office to get a stamp and that was it. The level of activity in An Post is something we need to be proud of. We should also discuss the immense services it provides.

An Post is going through a process of change. In recent weeks, post mistresses and postmasters received letters to state they have until 31 July to make a hard decision. It is a hard decision because they are an important part of the community. Some have been running post offices for decades, and now they must decide whether they will take the package on offer by 31 July or continue on the old contract with the possibility that their businesses will not survive. This is an issue for the network. This year will tell a great deal about how the network will look in the future. When we get information, such as that which the Minister has given the House, about the level of activity in post offices, it is important that we talk about it. We must also begin to talk about the fact that if we want a post office in the community we have to use it, and not just talk about it and campaign on it but physically use it. This will be something that all of us will have to deal with. We all must send the message - use it or, unfortunately, lose it. It is important that we get this message out there.

Expanding services is crucial, whether they relate to banking or motor tax. Work has been done on some of these issues and we must discuss them. We have to progress the motor tax issue at pace. The ability to renew motor tax in a post office would be a logical step. As other Senators have mentioned, a cohort in society does not have the ability to use the Internet. They do not renew motor tax online and will need an opportunity to go to a base to get their documentation. Senator Leyden mentioned the agricultural sector. The amazing aspect of the single farm payment system is that it is 100% online. Everything has to be done online to secure the basic payment. The post office is the obvious place for a hub that people can go to. This would be important for the rural dynamic to work. With regard to the banking system, there is some activity regarding An Post, the banks and outside banks. We must acknowledge that it helps people who need to move money in and out of bank accounts. We are discussing today what the next system should be and what the real An Post system should be. We are discussing which system we should choose? I looked into the Kiwibank system. It has some exceptional merits. A lady working in my office from New Zealand never used the system. She is from an urban centre. She said the system is more for the rural parts of New Zealand.