Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil Members did not close any post office; people voluntarily decided to resign. In this case, let us be quite clear about it. We all accept that the postmasters' union, with respect to it, negotiated a sweetheart deal for the post offices which they are entitled to. They are entitled to offer their resignation on the basis of either ill-health or retirement but the Minister and the Government should protect areas where a viable office can be retained. In places such as Athleague, Loughglynn and other areas in counties Roscommon and Galway, for instance, in Glinsk, somebody else should be offered the position where there is potential viability, as outlined by the Minister. I note the Minister stated that the office in Athleague will not have to be closed and they can decide to change their mind or not proceed until 31 January 2019. Making a representation on behalf of my own parish, I am quite satisfied with what the Minister said in that particular regard.

As to an appeals system, I do not know whether the Minister will tell us who they are. I would like to know who are these so-called independent persons who will assess whether a post office should be retained in a village. It should be publicly announced who they are so that we can have confidence. I would prefer to appeal to the Minister than appeal to persons whose knowledge of rural Ireland I know nothing about.

I thank the Acting Chairman for chairing the debate so well. Nobody wants to see any closures. Nobody wants to see any difficulties in rural areas. We are all fighting the one fight. However, I am very disappointed with my estranged colleagues in the Sinn Féin Party who came from the same tree. We branched off in 1926. We went non-military. That is the difference. We did not keep the military wing. We disengaged then, disbanded our military wing and went legitimate. Thanks be to God, Sinn Féin has gone in that mould as well and there will be an unholy alliance with the Fine Gael Party. I cannot believe that Cumann na nGaedheal and the blueshirt party would join with Sinn Féin to form a Government.