Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 350: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has directly or indirectly conveyed to An Post his preferred options for the future development of the postal services with particular reference to the wishes expressed by management and unions to the effect that political direction and leadership was both desirable and necessary in order to make the correct strategic decisions having particular regard to competition and regulatory requirement and the core need to ensure the continuation of a nationwide next day delivery postal service that is reliable, cost effective, efficient and competitive and incorporating the retention of the maximum number of electronically upgraded post offices and sub-post offices throughout the country in both urban and rural areas, structured in the best manner to ensure the strength and integrity of the entire service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11767/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's policy with regard to the future of the postal service, as set out in my Department's statement of strategy, has three principal aims: to ensure Irish industry and domestic customers enjoy competitively priced, high-quality postal services; to maintain a nationwide postal service and viable network, with uniform tariffs applying throughout the State; and to develop the postal service in such a way that it will underpin Ireland's key economic objectives.

These issues, in particular ensuring that Irish consumers have access to a broad suite of high-quality postal services and the maintenance of the universal service obligation, are of key importance to Ireland in the context of the future full liberalisation of the European postal market, which is due to take place in 2009, subject to political agreement. I intend to hold a public consultation examining the key issues in the draft directive, later in the year.

While the Government will support An Post in any way it can, it is the responsibility of the board and senior management team to make strategic decisions regarding the future of the company, how it will prepare itself for further competition and the number and type of post offices in the network. In preparation for competition, it is vital that the company restructures itself effectively and that management and trade unions in An Post work together to transform the company into an efficient and modern service provider by implementing the agreed restructuring programme.