Vol. 505 No. 1
43 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on comments in a newspaper article (details supplied) by the chief executive officer of An Post that profits must increase fourfold in the next three years for the postal service to survive and the agreement with the 6,000 postal workers on radical new work practices will be an essential part of achieving profit targets. [11925/99]
The Deputy will appreciate that the views expressed by the chief executive officer of An Post in the newspaper article to which he refers are not a matter for which I have responsibility.
It is for the board and management of An Post to determine the targets which the company must achieve in the coming years if it is to equip itself to meet the challenges posed by the increasingly competitive environment in which it must operate. An Post recognises that there is an urgent need for the company to undertake change if it is to prosper and grow in the future. It also recognises that if a programme of change is to be successful, it will be necessary to have the support and commitment of its employees.
I understand consultations on the introduction of new work practices and other measures are ongoing at present between management and employees' representatives in the company on the basis of a partnership approach to the issues involved.
