Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he has anticipated, planned or prepared for the implementation of the EU postal directive; if an assessment has taken place to ensure the continuation of a high quality early postal delivery and office service in all areas throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37667/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The issues for Ireland arising from the implementation of the third Postal Services Directive by the 31st of December, 2010 have been widely and comprehensively consulted upon, and as with all legislative proposals, a regulatory impact analysis was conducted. In preparation for liberalisation the Department held an open and comprehensive public consultation in 2008, and an Options Paper examining the options and making recommendations was published in 2009. I hosted a forum in November 2009, which was attended by postal service providers, the wider business community, the postal regulator, staff representation groups, and users' interests groups, and in the main, there was broad support for the recommendations outlined in the Options Paper.

The postal market is already partially opened. Parcel post is fully competitive, and all mail in excess of 50 grams is currently open to all competitors. Legislation to transpose the Directive, and give effect to this final step in the gradual and controlled opening of this market to competition and ensuring the continuing provision of a universal service, is currently being drafted in conjunction with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. I hope to publish this legislation shortly with a view to having it enacted before the end of the year.

The Government's core policy goal for the postal sector is to ensure that Irish customers, both business and residential, enjoy competitively priced, high quality postal services.