Cutbacks pledge urged over Irish Postal Service

The Irish Labour parliamentary opposition party tonight called for government assurances that a record loss for the state-backed An Post postal company would not “be used as an excuse for cutting rural postal services or for threatening the public’s right to send and receive mail through the post”.

Frontbench spokesman Tommy Broughan said: “Today’s announcement comes against the background of a deteriorating postal service and with further cutbacks threatened.

“I welcome the call of An Post chief executive Donal Curtin for a full review of the company’s business activities.

“However, this review must not lead to any knee-jerk reactions that would affect postal services throughout the country.

“A nationwide postal service is vital to the success and growth of the Irish economy, and An Post should not be forced to reduce its services any further to make-up for the shortfall.”