I am aware that An Post employees have not received increases provided for under the Sustaining Progress agreement from November 2003 to date. An Post is a commercial State body and the question of pay increases in the company is one in which I have no function.
An Post has a remit to be financially viable and, following significant losses amounting to €43 million in 2003 alone, An Post management invoked the ‘inability to pay' clause provided for in Sustaining Progress.
The key challenge for the company is to return to long-term financial stability. In this regard, An Post unions and management are involved in intensive negotiations with the assistance of the State's industrial relations machinery in a bid to agree a recovery plan that will put the company on a sound footing. The question of Sustaining Progress related payments is being addressed in a process brokered by the labour relations commission. An agreement on a viable recovery plan will enable An Post to deliver quality services to citizens, while at the same time providing sustainable, well-paid employment for its staff.