ISME slams Irish post price hike
Business lobby group ISME, today slammed proposals before the communication watchdog, ComReg, for an increase in postal charges.
ISME, described the 14.5pc proposed increase in postal services as, “yet another body blow to small business, if approved”.
Commenting on the application, ISME Chief Executive Mark Fielding said, “this latest application is outrageous and if approved will give a 45pc increase in the last two years, six times the corresponding rate of inflation”
“What is most galling is that this application is as a consequence of An Post’s deteriorating postal service which has been characterised by disruption, delay, incompetence and inefficiencies. Effectively, An Post is asking the already beleaguered Business Community to pay more for a deteriorating service, which is completely unacceptable,” he said.
“An Post, like any business in the non-sheltered sector, must focus on tackling the underlying problems in the cost base, restructuring the restrictive work practices and eliminating management inefficiencies. They cannot incessantly abuse their commercial monopoly by looking for price increases, which will have a negative effect on demand in the long term,” he added.
