I call Deputy Aindrias Moynihan.

Come on. We indicated first.

Let there be no ambiguity. I indicated very clearly that I would call Members in the order in which they indicated. I am doing that.

They are all Fianna Fáilers.

Deputy Shortall has not indicated, though Deputy Catherine Murphy has.

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to protecting local services, in particular in respect of the transport network where the Government acknowledges the importance of the bus for older and vulnerable people. It also speaks about examining how existing routes can be made more sustainable. Locals are in fear of the Cork-Tralee No. 40 express bus, which serves Ballyvourney and Ballymakeera, being downgraded and causing social isolation and difficulty of access. Is ábhar buartha é do mhuintir na Gaeltachta-----

Ceist.

-----go mbainfí amach an bus sin atá ag freastal ar Bhaile Bhuirne agus Baile Mhic Íre. Can the Taoiseach give assurances to passengers travelling to and from Ballyvourney and Ballymakeera that any change in bus services will not result in a downgrading of services?

The transport scheme is an essential part of the services provided to the people throughout the country. Bus Éireann will explain its difficulties to the Labour Court today and it is looking at the question of the continuation of the best level of services for the people of this country. I am not aware of the difficulties in respect of the route about which the Deputy speaks but I will see to it that the Minister responds to him.

We have learned that getting rid of the price cap will require emergency legislation and that the extent of the crisis in An Post is only starting to be revealed. There has been a decline of almost 7% in mail volumes this year, 10% is projected next year and the company is practically out of cash. How did we allow the situation to drift to the point that there is such an emergency? I understand there will not be any prelegislative scrutiny of the emergency legislation and that An Post, which was to have come before the joint committee today, is not now coming.

Could we or should we facilitate such a meeting in advance of the emergency legislation being introduced and the price cap being removed? This is a company in deep crisis and 9,000 employees face a bleak year in which it is hard to see how the company will survive, given the 10% drop in volumes and a price increase which will probably make it even worse. Surely the Oireachtas committee should examine it before the legislation and the price cap removal go through.

As a former Minister, the Deputy will appreciate the fact that there is a new management team for An Post. The management team has been in discussion with the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, about the matter. This morning, the Government approved the drafting of a Bill in respect of repealing section 30 of the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act. The Bill would include a commencement provision whereby it would be introduced only at an appropriate time when the Minister would be satisfied that the company was doing everything possible to take action to address its financial position. The Bill would also include an appropriate provision which would enable the Minister to reintroduce some form of pricing regulation if necessary. This would ensure the company would not have unfettered power over pricing. I will arrange for a briefing for the Members so they can understand where the Minister is coming from.