asked the Minister for Communications the licensing arrangements for courier firms in the country.
Written Answers. - Courier Licensing.
419.
Section 63(i) gives the exclusive privilege to An Post in respect of the conveyance of postal packets within, to and from the State and the offering and performance of the services of receiving, collecting, despatching and delivering postal packets.
Section 73 (1) of the Act stipulates that An Post may, with the Minister's consent and subject to such terms and conditions as the Minister may approve, grant, on the application of any person, a licence to the person to provide a postal service within the exclusive privilege granted to the company by section 63. The issue of a licence under this provision is a matter for An Post in the first instance, but an applicant who is refused a licence may appeal to the Minister for Communications.
Section 111 (1) (a) provides that the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, by order provide for the grant of a licence by the Minister, subject to such terms and conditions as the Minister may think fit to impose, to any person to provide a postal service or a telecommunication service of a class or description specified in the order after consultation with the appropriate company. The issue of licences under this provision would ordinarily arise only where An Post was not in a position to provide service.