Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his preferred options in regard to the future operation of parcel and letter delivery services here on a next day all week basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44003/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 390: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had discussions directly or indirectly with current or potential service providers in regard to the future letter and parcel delivery services nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44004/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 391: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had discussions with his EU colleagues or An Post in the context of the future development of the postal services here and throughout Europe; if he has discussed how best it is intended to meet public service obligations in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44005/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 to 391, inclusive, together.

The Government's policy with regard to the future development of the postal service is to ensure Irish customers, both business and residential, enjoy competitively priced, high quality postal services on a par with the highest quality standards in key comparator economies elsewhere in the EU. Electronic communications services, while providing threats to the postal service in the form of electronic substitution, will also provide opportunities in the form of e-fulfilment.

I believe that there will continue to be a key national role for An Post in delivery of mails and parcels. However, over the coming years, competition can be expected to increase in these sectors, whether from the privately owned express sector, from the large European public operators now looking for international business or from electronic substitution. Indeed, liberalisation of the mail market in Ireland has already commenced and there are currently in excess of thirty operators with authorisations from Communications Regulation.

An Post has a statutory obligation to provide a universal postal service, including the provision of a delivery to the home or premises of every natural or legal person not less than five days per week. The third postal directive, which will be transposed into Irish law by 31 December 2010, maintains the universal service obligation at the current level whilst providing for the completion of the liberalisation process in the postal sector.

It is also Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to compete in a liberalised market and provide a high quality, nationwide postal service. It is, however, the responsibility of the board and management of the company to make strategic decisions regarding its future and how it will prepare itself for future competition, particularly in advance of the full liberalisation of the postal sector. My department and I regularly meet with An Post to receive updates on the key issues affecting the company including those as they relate to market liberalisation.

Following on from the recently held public consultation process on the key decisions to be made when transposing the directive, my officials have examined the submissions received in response to the consultation, including those from An Post and other postal operators, and are drafting proposals on the legal framework which will apply in a liberalised market. Such draft legislative proposals will be subject to a regulatory impact analysis and will include further engagement, early in 2009, with interested stakeholders on issues arising from the process. As part of the transposition process my officials will also examine the experiences of other EU countries in liberalising and developing the postal market.