Vol. 473 No. 5
175 Mr. Gallagher (Donegal South-West) asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the Government's current position regarding European proposals to liberalise postal services in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1891/97]
Political agreement was achieved during Ireland's Presidency of the EU on a draft Directive entitled Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the development of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service.
The draft Directive represents a first modest phase in the liberalisation of the postal sector in the EU, is substantially less ambitious than the original proposal made by the Commission and presents no particular problems in so far as Ireland is concerned.
In addition to a modest degree of liberalisation, the Directive contains rules on quality of service, cost accounting and the designation of a national regulatory authority legally separate from and operationally independent of the postal authority. The provisions of the directive define the minimum universal service as the permenent provision of a postal service of specified quality at all points in the territory at affordable prices for all users including door-to-door deliveries five days per week as well as ensuring that the density of contact points is adequate for the needs of users and this is a welcome development.
