I propose to take Questions Nos. 404, 406 and 407 together.
I received a copy of the Grant Thornton report when I met with the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) recently.
I welcome the IPU's ambition to identify opportunities for more business to be delivered through the Post Office network.
An Post has many strengths and has the largest retail presence in the country. I have impressed on the Company the need to further exploit its unique position in this regard and have been supportive of its attempts to diversify its income streams and to win a wider range of commercial contracts offering higher margins. The acknowledgment by the IPU that it is supportive of delivering new services is clearly positive in this regard.
In the context of public sector transformation, I have stressed to my Government colleagues that the increased use of the post office network should be considered by public sector bodies where this is appropriate.
As a commercial State body An Post may bid for business from both public and private organisations in a competitive market. The nature and volume of business that An Post conducts with Government Departments and Public Sector Agencies is, however, in the first instance, a matter for the company and the respective Government Departments and Agencies.
More generally, I would stress that I am committed to a strong and viable An Post and support the maintenance of the maximum number of economically viable post offices.
