Batt O'Keeffe
Ceist:102 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he has agreed to the total modernisation and to the expansion of the postal services. [19173/95]
Written Answers - Postal Modernisation.
The question of modernisation and expansion of the postal services is a matter for the board and management of An Post in the first instance. The Postal and Telecommunications Act, 1983, specifically provides that the company shall have the power to do anything which appears to it to be requisite, advantageous or incidental to, or which appears to it to facilitate, either directly or indirectly, the performance by it of its functions as specified in the Act or in its memorandum of association and is not inconsistent with any enactment for the time being in force.
The commitment of An Post to the modernisation and expansion of services is evidence by the adoption by the board of the recommendations contained in the recent review of An Post carried out on behalf of the company by independent consultants Price Water-house. As I indicated to the House on 28 June 1995, the review was instigated at my request and was to include an examination of the role, methods of operation and effectiveness of An Post. The review contains many constructive recommendations aimed at further developing the company's operations, standards and range of services and is seen as an excellent platform from which An Post can effectively deal with the challenges that lie ahead, especially those stemming from the present EU proposals for liberalisation of the postal sector. As Minister with responsibility for An Post, I am fully supportive of their efforts in this regard.