Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his policy in respect of the structure and operation of An Post and the postal service in the aftermath of deregulation; if such issues have been the subject or are likely to become the subject of discussions between his Department, other Departments, groups, bodies or agencies; if discussions have taken place with staff at various levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38058/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nationwide, customer focussed network of post offices.

My officials and I meet regularly with An Post management to discuss issues of importance to An Post, including the future of the company. However, structural, operational and staff issues in An Post are the responsibility of the board and management of the company and, as with other postal service providers, are not matters in which I have a direct role.

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.

Legislation to transpose the Directive, and give effect to the 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.