About 500 people took part in a demonstration organised by the Irish Postmasters’ Union at Leinster House tonight ahead of a Dáil vote on the issue of post offices.
People from almost every county in the State were represented at the demonstration and carried banners that said “Rabbitte don’t stamp us out” and “Say No to Tesco”.
Independent TDs John Halligan, Séamus Healy and Michael Healy Rae and Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy were among the politicians in attendance. Gearóid Surlis, the post master of Tubercurry, Co Sligo, who was among the protesters, said that post office workers wanted a “fair hearing”.
“We know that the model has to be evolved in time – I wouldn’t have a problem with that but we feel that we’re being short-changed and not getting a fair hearing,” said Mr Surlis.
“We have tried to engage but An Post don’t seem to be reciprocating. We have put forward good ideas in recent years and they have fallen on deaf ears,” said Mr Surlis. “I think the future is challenging for post offices but there are great opportunities too. The Grant Thornton report had good suggestions and they wanted to see the banking model evolve. There’s a demand from the customers for banking facilities to be made available in post offices because they’re being turned away from local branches. I’ve no problem with technology but you’re being greeted by machines in banks and customers like to interact with people, not machines,” he said.
Linda McGrath from Lusk, Co Dublin, said it was important post offices remain open, particularly for elderly people. “People in Dublin might be all right but down the country they may not have a bank in the town so they need to have a post office.”