Vol. 455 No. 8
383 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the Government's position regarding the proposed EU Directive on the liberalisation of postal services; the effects, if any, the introduction of this Directive will have on the viability and continuation of post offices in rural towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12724/95]
The recent proposal by the European Commission for a Directive on common rules for the development of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service is under active consideration with a view to an early decision on our negotiating position.
Since the proposed Directive deals primarily with postal services, i.e. the collection, carriage, and delivery of postal items, it is unlikely to have any significant impact on the post office network, the business of which is mainly the payment of social welfare benefits, the operation of a range of savings services, TV licence issuing services, bill payment and money transmission services and other counter services.
