Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 360: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding the postal dispute. [35281/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, An Post has been through one of the most intensive industrial relations processes imaginable. At this stage, the dispute at An Post has been before every industrial relations body the State has to offer.

Following the 14-day notice of industrial action served on the company by the CWU, which expired on Friday 4 November, the national implementation body, NIB, at my request, engaged with both sides to the dispute in An Post and is aware that there are significant differences of understanding between the parties regarding the cost and implications of amendments proposed by the union to changes in the collection and delivery sector recommendations made by the Labour Court in July this year.

The NIB considered that clarifications of the costs and implications of the proposed union amendments are essential to facilitating a resolution of the dispute. On this basis the NIB has secured the assistance of a firm of accountants to carry out an independent examination into how much it would cost the company to accede to the union's amendments.

In light of the developments in the NIB, the Communications Workers Union agreed to a request by the NIB to defer industrial action until the examination has taken place. The industrial action that took place on Monday 7 November last, the national overtime ban and the strike at the GPO, has been called off. I considered this to be a positive step in the current climate.

On 17 November the NIB requested the Labour Court to assist the parties in reaching an agreed solution over the period immediately ahead, ending on Tuesday 22 November 2005. The NIB agreed to brief the court on the detail of its discussions with the parties over recent weeks. I have taken a very even-handed approach throughout the dispute and have met with all parties including the chairperson, the board, the management and the unions, at key intervals so as to be informed of the critical issues on both sides.

The simple fact is that the company needs to introduce modern work practices if it is to thrive in a competitive environment. I want to see An Post, an Irish company, delivering a high quality postal service to the Irish people. To enable the company to provide this service, the archaic work practices, that the workers themselves have acknowledged are archaic, need to be changed.

I hope that both parties take the opportunity afforded to them through the NIB to resolve outstanding issues. Business and consumers are entitled to the high quality postal service that the company and its employees are well capable of delivering.