Vol. 482 No. 6
153 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the proposals, if any, the Government has to use the over-the-counter services of An Post for other State services in view of the fact that this is currently done for the issuing of prize bonds and television licences; and the proposals, if any, she has to increase the revenue from this section of An Post business. [18613/97]
An Post provides counter services, including payment of bills for other organisations, in competition with other providers of similar services.
From the customer's point of view, there are obvious benefits in having such facilities available, and the Code of Practice for the Delivery of Services to Customers of Commercial State Companies emphasises the importance of satisfying the customers' needs. All the State companies under my aegis are expected to continue to address the customers' needs and I am confident that they will continue to do so. Where this demands co-operation between companies in the interests of the customer, I would like to see that happen.
It would not be appropriate to intervene directly in the market for the provision of such services by directing State organisations to choose An Post instead of or in addition to other providers. State organisations should make their decisions in this area in the context of efficiency, cost effectiveness and customer convenience.
154 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the terms of the EU directive in relation to the postal service after the year 2000 as it affects Ireland; and the implications it will have for An Post. [18614/97]
The essential elements of the draft EU postal directive are: the permanent provision of a postal service of specified quality at all points in the State at affordable prices for all users to be known as the "universal service"; rules on the quality of service for both national and cross-Border mail cost accounting and terminal dues i.e. the arrangements by which postal operators compensate each other for delivery of cross-Border mail which are related to costs; the designation of a national regulatory authority in each member state, legally separate from and operationally independent of my Department; a requirement that all postal operators who provide the universal service should undertake to handle all items of letter mail costing up to a maximum of five times the basic tariff and weighing up to a maximum of 350 grammes. Any mail outside these parameters will be liberalised when the directive comes into force.
The draft directive also provides that the Council and the European Paraliment will decide, not later than January 2000, on further gradual and controlled liberisation of the postal sector on the basis of proposals to be made by the Commission before the end of 1998. These will follow a review of the sector which the Commission will undertake, this further liberalisation to take effect from 2003.
An Post is confident that the company will be able to meet the challenges which will arise in the context of the liberalisation of the postal sector under the terms of this draft directive.
