asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the severe hardships being experienced by industrial and commercial firms, particularly small companies and very particularly the general public, as a result of a decision to suspend the acceptance and collection of parcel post within the Republic; if he is aware of the damage this decision is causing all companies engaged in exports and the subsequent effect all this is having on employment and the economy, and in view of the seriousness of the situation, if he will restore the parcel post immediately.
Private Notice Questions. - Restoration of Parcel Post.
I am aware that the suspension of the parcel post service is causing inconvenience to business and to the public generally. However, I regret that it was necessary to suspend the service because the postmen drivers did not pass the picket placed by the National Busmen's Union at Connolly Station, which is the main distribution centre for the conveyance of parcel mail. The service remains suspended as the drivers continue not to pass the picket. Because of the very considerable bulk of daily parcel postings, it is unfortunately not practicable to make alternative arrangements which would enable the service to be fully restored. The question of a limited restoration of the service, which would not involve the normal use of Connolly Station, is under active consideration at present by my Department.
The Minister must be misinformed. In the short time that I was in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs I learned that about 4,500 bags of mail——
A question, Deputy.
Yes, I am asking it. About 4,500 bags of mail are collected there and processed each day. In an agreement with van drivers they cleared off in a matter of hours three days' accumulation of mail which amounted to something between 12,000 and 13,000 bags per day despite the fact that the general manager of the ITGWU said today that it is 10,000 bags. Bear in mind that there is a chain-link conveyor system between Sheriff Street and Connolly Station capable of moving 12,000 bags per day as against a need of 4,500 bags per day. Is the Minister telling the House that there is no way in which this dispute can be resolved? People in Donegal must cross the Border to post goods to other parts of the Republic.
The chain conveyor link is in use for letter mail. That service is being provided and is up-to-date. The Deputy should also be aware that we are still delivering a substantial quantity of parcels from both the UK and the United States. Post office workers are not passing this picket and for that reason the parcel post is suspended for the moment. The huge bulk of the parcel post is the problem but we are hoping to establish a limited restoration of service. At the same time we are urging that the workers should pass the pickets. Leaders of the Post Office Workers' Union are asking their members to pass the pickets and members of other unions are doing so. Deputy Harte has made a very good point about the seriousness of this problem for small industries and so on. If the workers passed the pickets full service could be restored in a very short time.
I am not satisfied. The Minister represents a Border constituency and he must appreciate that small companies——
Could the Deputy ask a short supplementary?
I am asking whether the Minister appreciates that small companies are now being discriminated against. Firms that are importing——
This is more a statement than a question.
I am asking the Minister if he is aware that imports are being delivered and paid for by the taxpayers while small companies which manufacture goods for export cannot do so because of the stubborn attitude of the Minister in not meeting the people in Sheriff Street and working out some arrangement with them. There is a conveyor belt system there which is quite capable of coping with the number of parcels which are——
The Deputy has asked a supplementary question and should now allow it to be answered. He may not make a statement and we must move on to another Private Notice Question.
I assure the Deputy that I am aware there is a serious problem in this field and that small industries are being hit hardest. There is pressure from my Department and from the leaders of the unions to pass the picket at Connolly Station but this has not succeeded in persuading workers from the POWU to do so, despite the fact that workers from other unions are passing the picket. A considerable bulk of parcels from the UK and the United States are being delivered and we are now trying to put together a scheme whereby we can get a limited parcel post service operating, without using Connolly Station.
This is a very serious matter.
I know that, but we cannot have a debate on it. I have allowed a number of supplementaries.
I resent the Chair trying to curtail the debate.
I will not allow any more supplementary questions.
I am asking the Minister to become involved personally in this dispute.
You have already asked that.
Will you let me give my reasons, please?
You are entitled to ask a supplementary and that is all.
I am asking the Minister personally to take an interest in what is happening.
You have repeated your supplementary.
People are being forced to go to Northern Ireland to post their goods to other parts of the Republic.
You have said that already.
We are losing the revenue and small industries are being put to great inconvenience. The Minister has done sweet Fanny Adams about it. He is not interested in his work and should admit it.
I repeat very firmly that I have taken and am taking a personal interest in this problem and I do not accept this bluster from Deputy Harte.
(Interruptions.)
I will set up an office in my own constituency.
It will be the first thing the Minister has ever done for it.