Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason the Government has decided to take the Postal (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2001 off the Dáil Order Paper for Second Stage; the Government's view on the long promised employee share ownership plan; and when this proposal will be brought before the Oireachtas. [8194/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Postal (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which was published in 2001 provides for the issue, sale and disposal of shares in An Post in the context of an employee share ownership plan, ESOP, and possible strategic alliance. The Bill also contains ancillary provisions arising out of a possible change of ownership.

The financial and industrial relations environment in An Post has changed substantially since 2001. Following operational losses of almost €43 million in 2003, the An Post board approved a recovery strategy for the company. The implementation of the recovery strategy is contingent on agreement with the trades unions to radical restructuring. Negotiations have been ongoing with the trades unions for over a year now and critical aspects are being considered by the Labour Court.

With the industrial relations situation in An Post at a delicate and critical stage, it would seem prudent to defer consideration of the issues provided for in the Bill until a resolution is found to those issues. For this reason, a decision has been taken, in conjunction with the Chief Whip, to withdraw the Bill from the Dáil Order Paper. The motion was passed in the Dáil on Tuesday last.

The Government and I remain fully committed to an ESOP in An Post if it can be demonstrated that real transformation has occurred and that the cost savings envisaged in the ESOP have been achieved. If and when this is achieved, the Bill can be restored to the Dáil Order Paper.