Vol. 405 No. 6
222 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications whether An Post have a haulage licence similar to any other haulier for their haulage activities; if he has satisfied himself that there is fair competition between this semi-State company's activities and the commercial haulage sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Section 2 of the Road Transport Act, 1933, specifically exempts the carriage of mails by or under contract with the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs from the licensing requirements of that Act. The Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983, transferred that exemption to An Post.
As An Post do not engage in the carriage of goods other than mail, the company do not require a carrier's licence for their activities. It should be noted that in the carriage of parcels-express mail An Post do not have a monopoly and that the company provide that service in an open competitive market.
