That is true.

I alert Senators to the fact that UPC is ending its relationship with An Post. The company will no longer allow any citizen in Ireland to pay his or her UPC bill at a local post office. The relationship in this regard is all over and UPC is walking away. One must now have a credit card or a debit card and a bank account to pay one's UPC bill. Many elderly people do not have any of these. UPC is capitulating to the great banking model. Some 3.5 million people use the services of An Post. The Government is trying to keep An Post alive but UPC, representatives of which went to An Post on their knees a few years ago begging it to allow their customers to use its facilities to pay their bills, is now walking away.

Stinkers.

I want the relevant Minister to come before the House to explain the position on this matter. New social welfare forms have arrived in post offices, but the Government is recommending that people should use the services of banks. That is disgraceful.

The Government is hardly saving the post office network.

UPC is going to have to answer for this. How is it being allowed to do what I have outlined to the people? Many older people do not have bank accounts, credit cards or debit cards. This is because they do not use the services of the banks. In fact, An Post is their bank, the reason for which is that it never let them down. I would like the Leader to provide an explanation of the position with regard to both UPC and the new social welfare forms.