Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will protect the universal service obligation for the postal service operated by An Post (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43121/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I plan to publish legislation to transpose the Third Postal Services Directive shortly. The Directive provides for the final step in the gradual and controlled opening of the postal services market to competition and ensuring the continuing provision of a universal postal service.

In designing the new regulatory framework, the key principles are the maintenance of a universal postal service, the essential element of which is the collection and delivery of mail to every address in the State on every working day, and the development of a competitive sector providing competitively priced, high quality postal services to both business and residential customers.

I look forward to the debate on the draft legislation when it is published, and will be working towards having it enacted before the end of the year.