To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:
—recognises the:
—critical importance of a vibrant universal public postal service;
—commitment of the Government to the postal network as set out in European Communities (Postal Services) Regulations 2002 which explicitly provide for the universal service obligation in relation to nationwide postal deliveries at uniform tariffs and, in recognition of the universal service obligations on An Post, the designation of part of the postal market as reserved to An Post;
—difficult financial situation faced by An Post in recent years with losses of over €24 million between 2001 and 2002 and a loss of €43 million in 2003;
—challenges posed to the postal service by electronic substitution, potential liberalisation by 2009 and the entry of strong international operators into the Irish postal market;
—need for An Post to develop a customer service ethos and to offer a range of high quality, competitively priced services and products to customers who increasingly will have a choice of postal provider;
—difficult issues arising in SDS, the parcels division of An Post, arising from the loss making situation of €12 million in 2003 and expected losses currently being dealt with in the National Implementation Body; and
—difficulties caused to An Post pensioners by the non-payment of Sustaining Progress.
notes the:
—work already undertaken by the Labour Relations Commission in brokering a proposal in regard to restructuring An Post collection and delivery processes;
—progress made by the LRC in facilitating agreement between An Post unions and management in agreeing Christmas mail arrangements;
—work being undertaken by Mr. Peter Cassells under the auspices of the National Implementation Body in resolving issues arising from the SDS closure; and
—work undertaken by the Labour Court in resolving issues between An Post management and the AHCPS.
urges:
—management and unions to continue to finalise these talks as a matter of urgency and in a spirit of partnership and expects that on agreement that both sides will honour all aspects of that agreement in spirit and letter.
and commends:
—the commitment of the Government to the renewal of An Post as demonstrated by the decision of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to meet the An Post Board and the CWU this week to outline the Government's views on the future of the postal service."
— (Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources).