asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he has set up a post office users' council as indicated in a reply of 12th June, 1973, and as recommended by the National Prices Commission Occasional Paper No. 6; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Post Office Users' Council.
118.
The council has not yet been established but the arrangements are well advanced and I expect to set it up shortly.
Many months have passed since the Minister announced his intention. Can he give any explanation for the delay?
Certainly. The Government at its meeting on 11th December, 1973, approved the establishment of the Post Office Users' Council on the general lines proposed by my Department. A draft memorandum for the Government on the composition of the council has been approved and is in the hands of certain other public Departments which are concerned with this matter, for their observations. As Deputies will be aware, the composition of a council of this kind should be of a well-balanced representative character, taking into account the various interests concerned. It is a matter which necessarily takes up a little time but we have it well on the way and we hope to announce its composition shortly.
When was the decision announced?
Sometime last summer I announced my agreement with the National Prices Commission and my intention to submit the matter to the Government. The Government approved it last December.
Even allowing for good bureaucratic procedure I still think this is too long.
The Deputy is entitled to that view. We are getting ahead with this. It was not done by our predecessors.