Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 March 2014
237. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action he is taking to ensure that the post office service remains independent, outside international retail chains, and that employees are covered by the Official Secrets Act. [10710/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe importance of maintaining a network of post offices around the country is recognised in the Programme for Government. It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focussed network of post offices in the community.
That said, the Deputy should be aware that operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are a matter for the Board and management of An Post and not one in which I have a statutory function. As shareholder, however, I have a strong concern in relation to the ongoing commercial position of the Company and I regularly liaise with the Company in this regard. In this regard, I welcome the progress that has been made by An Post towards diversification of the post office network's income streams. Post offices have traditionally been based on the high street. An Post's competitors are, however, establishing a presence in the larger retail outlets, where the bulk of the population conduct their weekly shopping. That presence represents a significant threat to the company if it does not respond.
An Post is a commercial state body and receives no exchequer funding. It would be fundamentally wrong for the State as shareholder to constrain the capacity of the company to provide competing services where these are demanded by its customers. It is also worth adding that employees of An Post have no particular status under the Official Secrets Act.
The long-term health of the post office network requires focussed, long-term company action, in co-operation with the Government, based on a sustained capability to deliver competitive services, freely chosen and locally provided.
