Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 153: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will clarify the situation regarding the third postal directive; the way this matter is being dealt with; if it is being dealt with by primary legislation or statutory instrument; if he anticipates job losses in An Post following the liberalisation of the postal market and if they envisage the need to set up any kind of compensation fund for same; the measures he will take to ensure that employment and service standards are protected within the postal market following liberalisation; if consideration has been given to recital 16 of this directive, which states that social considerations should be taken into due account when preparing the opening up of the postal market; the steps being taken to ensure that a liberalised postal market will continue to provide the universal service obligation which provides a guaranteed five day postal service as currently offered by An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43437/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Third Postal Services Directive provides for the final step in the gradual and controlled opening of the postal services market to competition. Primary legislation to transpose this Directive has been drafted and Government approval has been given to publish the new Bill shortly.

The issues for Ireland arising from the implementation of the Directive have been widely and comprehensively consulted upon, and as with all legislative proposals, a regulatory impact analysis was conducted.

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.

In relation to employment and service standards within the postal sector, these are the responsibility of the management of postal service providers. In addition, general employment legislation applies across the economy as a whole.

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.