An Post selection process ‘stinks’
MEETINGS HEARS CALLS FOR INQUIRY INTO “RIGGED” REVIEW PANEL
SLIGO County Council is writing to two Government ministers calling for an inquiry into the Independent Review Panel of An Post which has rubber-stamped the closure of Ballinfull and Gurteen Post Offices.
Sinn Féin Councillor Thomas Healy won the unanimous support of all members of Sligo Municipal District when he tabled the motion.
He urged the Council to write to new Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment Richard Bruton and Minister for Rural and Community Affairs Michael Ring.
Cllr Healy wants the criteria and timescale of the Review Panel and their decisions on both post offices to be analysed.
“The ordinary people don’t believe in the Independent Review Panel,” Cllr Healy said, adding that he was looking for the Department to “stand up for us.”
“No rural area will get a post office with that criteria. The two ministers need to step up to the mark. Ballinfull and Gurteen are viable. A minister needs to intervene here,” he said.
His party colleague Cllr Chris MacManus seconded the motion, who said “the whole shenanigan and decision being made before the closing date reinforces the view that the Independent Review Panel are rubber-stamping An Post’s decision.”
He said “somebody sat down and set out those parameters” that look like it’s being done in a fair manner. “It’s a rigged process. The community have been jumping through hoops and the people in An Post are tittering behind their hands,” he said.
Independent Councillor Marie Casserly said it was “misleading and unfair to the community” and asked that their submissions be looked at.
Fine Gael Councillor Hubert Keaney said that this was a political decision which was “short-sighted” and he also claimed it was “rigged from the very beginning.”
Cllr Keaney said if any community had the wherewithal they could legally challenge An Post because in his view, they “hadn’t adhered to their own criteria” by deciding about Ballinfull on 24 th September, long before the final deadline at the end of October.
“How can they decide five weeks before the closing date? It just stinks. It shows what we have at the top of some of our semi-state bodies, executives who are so full of themselves,” he said.
Cllr Healy asked that they send a deputation to the Minister if they don’t get the inquiry they’re looking for.