Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Curaim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. It is always dangerous when one comes in at the end of the debate, especially when one follows in the footsteps of Senator O'Reilly, who is very eloquent. The debate so far has been particularly insightful.

I welcome this debate on the future of our post office network. What we should be talking about is the future of that network as our world evolves and changes.I was in America during the summer and noticed the postal service was under pressure. I was in a small post office in a town in Cape Cod and I could not get over the number of people who were sending postcards. I grew up where Friday was pension day. My grandmother, God rest her, used to bring us to Joe O'Leary's post office in Knocknagree. It was her day out. There were also trips to the shop to buy groceries in the local community. I want to thank the postmasters for their role in Irish society, and for their involvement in this debate and in what the Minister, Deputy Naughten, is doing. Notwithstanding Senator O'Reilly's eloquence, it was refreshing to hear the honesty of Senator Mac Lochlainn. A part of me thought he was coming over to us and getting ready for Government because he was right.