Anger at special council meeting over ‘no show’ by An Post

The An Post ‘no show’ at a special council meeting last evening (Thursday) to discuss the likely relocation of services from the landmark Roscommon Town Post Office to a contractor run business led to much anger among the councillors present.

Along with council executive staff and Oireachtas members, the local authority members had gathered in the council chamber for the special meeting organised to discuss the threat of closure of the post office building in The Square.

The anticipation of a senior manager from the Semi-state company appearing at the meeting turned to anger when the Council Cathaoirleach explained the An Post ‘now show’.

Cathaoirleach Cllr John Keogh outlined to his colleagues that a senior An Post representative had originally agreed in an email to the Cathaoirleach to attend the meeting by joining online on the presumption that it would be held in private or ‘in camera’.

However, on being informed that the meeting would be held in the same format as a standard council meeting where people could watch from the public gallery or online, he declined the invitation.

In his email correspondence to the Cllr Keogh, the An Post representative said he would be happy to engage with councillors but felt it was not appropriate to do so in a public forum as the matter was an operational one involving staff consultation and a tender process.

Cllr Keogh, who was among many councillors critical of the ‘no show’, said the response from An Post showed “contempt for elected representatives”.

“An Post is a State owned company and to say it is inappropriate to meet us is simply outrageous,” he said.

There were suggestions during the meeting that the local Chamber of Commerce could have a role to play in persuading any local businesses not to tender for the An Post contract for the post office services in the town when it goes out to tender.

During the two hour council meeting, it was agreed that a delegation should travel to Dublin to meet the relevant Minister, Jack Chambers and An Post management to highlight local anger about any moves to relocate the running of the services at the town post office to a private contractor.

The delegation will comprise the Council Cathaoirleach, the six Roscommon Municipal District councillors, the Boyle and Athlone Municipal District Chairs and Oireachtas members.

Fianna Fail Senator Eugene Murphy, who has already highlighted the controversy with Minister Chambers, anticipated that the meeting would take place at the end of next week.

The special meeting yesterday evening was also attended by Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice and Sinn Fein Deputy Claire Kerrane who both rowed in behind councillors' opposition to An Post’s plans.

(For full a report on the meeting, see next Tuesday's edition of the Roscommon Herald)