Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil seems to be in government, such is the attack on our party from Sinn Féin. I am surprised by this because our motion is solid and reasonable. Fianna Fáil never closed offices; people voluntarily did so. In this case a very attractive deal is being offered to ensure that 159 offices close. There is an element of duress in some cases, with people being told to leave and get the money or stay and get sweet damn all. A well-orchestrated spin is being put on it and, while Fianna Fáil supported the closures referred to, I never closed an office and I was in the Department for some nine months. I was appointing people and appointing more people, and I was disappointing some.From right throughout the length and breadth of Ireland, the files came, I got the recommendation off the postmaster in the area and I duly signed the order. I was signing orders right up to the eve of the general election of 1982. Of course, one could not disappoint those who wanted to be appointed. In most cases, they were political appointees. Every time Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael was in power, they appointed postmasters of a particular persuasion. Let us be quite honest about it. We can be honest about these matters because I was there in the Department.