The chief executive of An Post, Mr John Hynes, has been criticised for refusing to attend a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications next week to explain the company's controversial plans to end home mail deliveries.
The chairman of the committee, Mr Noel O'Flynn TD, last night said it was "extraordinary and disappointing" that senior An Post officials were unable to attend a meeting on such an important issue.
A spokesman for An Post confirmed yesterday that Mr Hynes had received a request to attend the meeting.
"I know next week is very difficult for us. There are a number of commitments and I think it very unlikely that we will be able to attend next Thursday."
The spokesman stressed, however, that An Post would attend a meeting at some point. "We're just not quite sure when."
Mr O'Flynn said last night it was extraordinary that a semi-state company would not make itself available to an Oireachtas committee on such an important issue which was of grave concern to the entire Irish public.
"Surely the plans that An Post have are available. If they have gone to tender on the roadside post boxes, surely there must be somebody in that vast organisation that could attend to present and explain the plans."Mr O'Flynn meanwhile has welcomed the decision of the Communications Regulator, Ms Etain Doyle, to attend a meeting of the committee scheduled for January 29th. Ms Doyle will explain her office's role in the implementation of An Post's plans.
The Fine Gael spokesman on communications, Mr Simon Coveney, who is also a committee member, echoed Mr O'Flynn's disappointment.
"I do not accept that An Post needs more notice. That is a nonsense. An Post should be doing all it can to facilitate the committee. I can understand Noel O'Flynn's annoyance," he said.
Mr Tommy Broughan, the Labour Party spokesman on communications, said he was "very disappointed".
Meanwhile, the Commission for Communications Regulation has begun a public consultation on the plans for roadside letter boxes. It has invited all TDs to make submissions.
