Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 2

Written Answers. - Postal Service.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

114 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans for further deregulation in postal services; the impact this will have on An Post; the policy direction provided by his Department to An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15855/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

In December 2002, I signed the European Communities (Postal Services) Regulations 2002. The purpose of the regulations is to transpose the European Parliament and Council directive concerning the further opening to competition of community postal services. Under these regulations the postal market was further liberalised from the beginning of January this year. The area reserved to An Post is confined to items which weigh less than 100 grams and where the price limit is less than three times the standard tariff. Outbound international mail will be fully liberalised from next year and the postal market will be further liberalised in 2006 when the weight limit will be reduced to 50 grams and the price limit to two and a half times the standard tariff.

An Post, as the universal service provider, is obliged to fulfil universal service obligations, and in recognition of this, has a reserved area in which other operators are precluded from providing services. As already outlined, this reserved area will be reduced when the market is further liberalised next year and in 2006. In regard to proposals for liberalisation of the postal market by the EU, the Commission has set a target date of 2009 for full liberalisation.

However, in advance of any agreement on full liberalisation, the Commission intends to undertake a study for each member state on the impact of full liberalisation on universal service provision. Our view of further liberalisation will be informed by,inter alia, the outcome of the Commission's study in regard to Ireland, the impact on An Post and the opportunity to develop the postal market further arising from liberalisation. I have given no policy direction to An Post under section 110 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983.