FF candidates face election fight over post office lobby

[David Cochrane]

THREE Fianna Fáil candidates in the so-called “constituency of death” will find themselves under even more pressure as a post office lobby group plans to urge people to vote against them.

The pressure group is trying to stop the threatened closure of non-automated post offices in Lombardstown, Cullen, Derrinagree and Knocknagree — all of which happen to be in the Cork North-West constituency where FF deputies Batt O’Keeffe, Donal and Michael Moynihan are battling it out in the three-seater against two heavy-hitting FG candidates and one from Labour. - Irish Examiner

[SPN]

The same is likely to happen in Waterford too. Tomas Martin will do serious damage to Martin Cullen if he stands on the Post Office issue.

Tomas has very strong FF family connections - it is rare to see a FF canvassing posse in this part of the world that doesn't have one of his relatives in the middle of it - and he was also a founding member of the Waterford PDs IIRC.

Being Chairman on Roanmore GAA Club won't harm him either.

[KingKane]

We need to find alternate roles for the rural post office which would allow them to remain open and viable.

[Darren Mac an Phríora]

Fair play to the lobby group!

[rockofcashel]

We need to find alternate roles for the rural post office which would allow them to remain open and viable.

Bit of lap dancing out the back would do the trick

[Salthill]

Has any oarty gone from generalities on 'supporting' rural post offices to concrete promises? No matter what you put in them you're talking new public money. How much are parties willing to promise?

It would also be good if everyone who went on tv or radio condemning the decline of the r po's actually used them

[codology]

the whole post office debate is really about what the public want do they want a postal buisness or a postal service,to provide a national postal service counter and delivery an Post will definitley need a government subsidy especially after the deregulation of the delivery end in 2009.At the moment in the Dublin 10 area An Post has implemented huge cuts in the staff on the delivery end as a result people in this area are only receiving post every second or third day at best ,this is a dry run for the rest of the country and so far has been an absolute disaster.This could become a major issue in this area in the GE.

[Darren Mac an Phríora]

It is going to be a major issue in rural areas. Like the cuts in the CES's though the Govt are too arrogant to see it.

[Dubliner]

We need to find alternate roles for the rural post office which would allow them to remain open and viable.

Bit of lap dancing out the back would do the trick

Or get farmer Parlon to 'ear-mark' a few civil-servants to move in.

[Salthill]

It is going to be a major issue in rural areas. Like the cuts in the CES's though the Govt are too arrogant to see it.

So are FG promising more money here or not?