asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he has decided to transfer the telecommunications section of his Department to a semi-State body; if so, when this is likely to be done; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
7.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telecommunication Services.
6.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will outline Government policy regarding the future of the postal and telecommunication services.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 6 and 7 together.
No decision has been taken by the Government on any change in the administration of the postal and telecommunications services. Government policy is to develop, improve and modernise these services and certain possibilities of doing so are under examination. I expect to make an announcement on the matter in the near future.
Can the Minister indicate whether a review is being carried out of the full telecommunication services in the light of the long dispute and also in the light of the new possibility of another shutdown of the telephone service? Can he say, if such a review is being carried out, who will carry it out?
I will be making a statement on that shortly.
Has the Minister considered the desirability of appointing a committee or commission, an independent body, as has been suggested several times in recent months, to examine the whole question of the telecommunication services with a view to analysing the problems and making recommendations with a view to hiving off the telecommunication services to a semi-State body?
I am sure the Deputy is aware that in our pre-election manifesto we undertook to examine the desirability of giving autonomy to the telecommunication services and to modernising the postal system so as to provide a rapid and efficient delivery service. That is exactly what I am doing.
Is the Minister aware of the latest information available from a union conference today that there is a possibility of another shutdown of the telephone service, and if so, what action does he propose to take?
On previous occasions I said very little about these matters because I felt that was the best way to deal with it, and I do not propose now to reply to suppositions.
In view of the extreme gravity of the situation would the Minister agree that the time is overdue for a complete, in-depth, independent assessment of the entire service with a view to ironing out the difficulties? In a speech a week ago the Minister said the Government had decided to review the entire matter. Now the Minister is hedging, humming and hawing, and we do not know what is happening.
The Minister is not hedging about anything. He has clearly stated that he will make a statement on the matter in the near future.
Let the whole country be crippled by another dispute but say nothing, do nothing, hear nothing.