Management and the unions in An Post came to me and my officials saying they needed to address this matter, otherwise they would be overwhelmed by the force of change in postal services throughout Europe. I do not have a timeframe but I will communicate with the Deputy on this matter. No timeframe was set down as they came to us with force and urgency and we agreed to move forward.
I am not in favour of equity in terms of a partner. Neither am I in favour of privatising any part of An Post. I note the UK balked at such a position, but a report in The Guardian last Saturday said that 800 rural post offices would be closed in the UK. The report spoke about the devastating effect this would have on the rural landscape. I do not deny that the PricewaterhouseCoopers report on An Post which was completed some years ago decided that a number of rural post offices should close. I am not in favour of doing that. An Post still has hankerings in that regard, but the Government is not in favour of doing so.
A partner could bring expertise or markets. Once equity is given, influence is brought to bear on the company far beyond the worth of the money provided. I agree that An Post is not like any other semi-State company. It is very intimate and widespread and it affects everybody in the country who receives mail or uses the services of the post office.
Commercially An Post lives on the edge. It does not make big money, it just breaks even. Something will have to be done to get it into the slipstream of more technology and better working practices etc. That is the road which is now being embarked upon.