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An Post CEO David McRedmond and Minister Patrick O'Donovan. Rollingnews.ie

War of words breaks out on the airwaves between An Post boss and a minister — what's going on?

An Post CEO David McRedmond denies that the organisation is in dire straits.

THE CEO OF An Post was pretty “furious” on the radio this morning.

Fast forward a few hours and a Government minister was out on the news denying that he leaks from Cabinet. 

So why has a row broken out over An Post?

Well, it began with Cabinet ministers yesterday discussing An Post’s future.

Ministers were briefed that while profits were up in the organisation, there has been a fall off in mail. 

Ministers were told that the Department of Arts, Culture and Sport is to consider a number of proposals, including a system whereby post might not be delivered daily and there might need to a consolidation of distribution centres.

Senior ministers said their impression of the discussion was that next day delivery for letters was no longer tenable, but as one minister told The Journal today:

“An Post is always under pressure.”

The Irish Daily Mail also reported today An Post is facing a “dire financial situation”, alleging that cash reserves dropped below €1 million for the first time.

This, in particular, appears to have irked the An Post boss, David McRedmond, who picked up the phone to call RTÉ’s Morning Ireland while he is on his holidays in Italy.

He told the radio programme that he was furious over what he described as an “irresponsible leak” by “a Government minister” relating to the company’s finances.

“I’m here in Italy, on my holidays, I’m absolutely furious to read something like that,” he added.

“The results were presented to Cabinet yesterday. They showed the highest revenue we’ve ever had, over a billion in revenue for the first time. 

“They show that we grew our earnings from €38 million to €55 million. They showed that our net profit was €10 million,” he said. 

So annoyed was the An Post boss, that the organisation released its annual report early, publishing it today. 

A few hours after McRedmond’s radio appearance, O’Donovan, who is responsible for An Post, was out on RTÉ Radio One also, claiming that the leak did not come from him. 

He added that he is satisfied that An Post is in good financial standing.

What does the future hold for An Post? 

Debates around the future of the postal service in Ireland are not new.

For over a decade now, the organisation has been seeking more funding to keep post offices open and delivery services operational.

Just last month, An Post was before an Oireachtas committee making this very point. 

Redmond told the committee that he is “really confident about the future of the post office network”.

An Post exceeded €1 billion in revenue for the first time in the company’s history, he said at the time.

“There is always difficulty with mail volume decline but we are growing a load of services,” he said. 

Chairman of An Post, Kieran Mulvey told the committee that he had every confidence in the future of the post office, stating that An Post is “highly competitive”, particularly for parcels.

“That is a significant growth area for us. We operate on a multiplicity of fronts. It is not just about maintaining the post office network and the products that go through it. There is also the centralised delivery of mail parcels throughout the country, including Government services,” said Mulvey. 

Patrick Neary, Assistant secretary in the Department of Communications, said last month that the decline in mail and financial transactions “puts pressure” on ensuring that the organisation has new areas of revenue, through Government services and parcel delivery.

“We are working very closely with An Post on its strategy and future strategy. We are supported by other Government agencies in that engagement. To say what the future will be beyond five years is probably a little bit of a stretch for us now. I know An Post’s strategy, published last year, looked out for the coming five years and we are very much engaged,” said Neary.

What does the Taoiseach make of the row? 

The Taoiseach was asked about the back-and-forth between O’Donovan and McRedmond, stating that there was no discussion yesterday about An Post “being on the brink or anything like that”.

Micheál Martin said that the company turned a profit last year. 

“My main message here is we have full confidence in An Post. I have, as Taoiseach. I’ve witnessed first over the last decade, the manner in which the company has changed. And changed effectively, I believe, and has adapted very well to fairly disruptive change…

“The company has managed that very well and has managed its human resource change very well also. I was disappointed with the thrust of that story this morning because I don’t think it reflects the strength and resilience in the company.”

What next? 

Well, any funding An Post is looking for from the Government will be thrown into the pile of asks ahead of October’s budget. 

Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae told Newstalk today that the Government has an “obligation” to protect communities’ and its post offices. 

“If we don’t use it, we lose it,” he said, adding that everyone should use their local post office.

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26 Comments
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    Mute Wicked Hedgehog
    Favourite Wicked Hedgehog
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    Jul 16th 2025, 7:57 PM

    I have zero complaints about A Post- I think they’re extremely reliable and an efficient service. I like being able to do banking and bill paying in my local post office. All the postal workers in this country have my thanks!

    129
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    Mute Áine G
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    Jul 16th 2025, 6:59 PM

    An Post is a good service. They have the Temu and Amazon contact.

    102
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    Mute Thomas Berry
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    Jul 16th 2025, 7:04 PM

    @Áine G: I’ve used all the couriers in the country and nobody comes close to the An Post service.

    155
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    Mute Patrice Ahern
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    Jul 16th 2025, 7:05 PM

    Over the last decade or more there’s been a drop-off in the use of sending letters, cards etc in the post. Our postal service’s reaction? Increase!!! the price of a stamp. Nothing can go wrong.

    33
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    Mute Donal Ronan
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    Jul 16th 2025, 8:04 PM

    The bold David is no angel. He in collusion with the CWU union, has reduced the company contribution to the workers pension fund.
    It was 14% and is now 8%.
    That is where his supposed profit has come from

    33
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    Mute Mike Finnegan
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    Jul 16th 2025, 6:55 PM

    “We don’t want papists playing cricket” says Orange Order.
    “We don’t want Palestinians playing hurling ” says Dept of Justice…

    37
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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Jul 16th 2025, 7:07 PM

    @Mike Finnegan: Jordan is Arab Palestine yet,,,, “What’s noteworthy in this entire conflict since Oct. 7 has been the lack of reaction or response from the Arab world. Saudi Arabia continues to hold the door open for a peace agreement with Israel. The UAE, Morocco and Bahrain didn’t even withdraw ambassadors. Jordan did, but of course with about half of its population being Palestinian, Jordan has a particular problem.”

    14
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    Mute Anthony Curran
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    Jul 16th 2025, 6:46 PM

    The Daily Mail. Honestly, what sort of morons read that 5h1t€? Wouldn’t wipe me @r$€ with it!

    67
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    Mute Martin O Connell
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    Jul 16th 2025, 11:24 PM

    Dail Privelige needs to be removed. Ministers should be held to account for their unsubstantiated statements.

    23
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    Mute Tony
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    Jul 17th 2025, 12:12 AM

    This government are so out of touch with the people of the country it’s unbelievable. I’d say they are chomping at the bit to sell it off to bezos or their old pal obrien.

    19
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    Mute jn
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    Jul 16th 2025, 7:12 PM

    fffg Lowry gang untrustworthy trash , CEO propaly been tron under the bus , fffg way of sacking

    37
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    Mute William Tallon
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    Jul 16th 2025, 8:03 PM

    Rather than this public spat, perhaps it might have been better had the Minister instead sent a strongly worded letter to the An Post CEO? By private courier, of course…

    14
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    Mute Áine G
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    Jul 16th 2025, 10:01 PM

    @William Tallon: They make money out of their parcel service. And they have big contracts Amazon and Temu.

    8
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    Mute Phillip Smyth
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    Jul 16th 2025, 7:19 PM

    Posting letters thing of the past

    13
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    Mute Phillip Smyth
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    Jul 16th 2025, 7:32 PM

    @Phillip Smyth: packaging services excellent, why would you need a van, to deliver letters ? and post offices are only giving out money anymore to immigrants.

    22
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    Mute Paul Lee
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    Jul 16th 2025, 7:43 PM

    @Phillip Smyth: vans are used to “deliver” letters because An Post workers deliver letters AND large volumes of parcels.

    46
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    Mute Phillip Smyth
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    Jul 16th 2025, 7:46 PM

    @Paul Lee: no need for vans to deliver letters

    4
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    Mute Donal Ronan
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    Jul 16th 2025, 9:31 PM

    @Phillip Smyth: You do realise that Ireland is not Dublin. The Republic consists of 26 counties.
    I think you should get on your bike with some of your comments on here.

    17
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    Mute Mark Donnelly
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    Jul 16th 2025, 10:41 PM

    @Phillip Smyth: yes but they have to deliver letters AND parcels!!! What part of that are you not understanding?

    15
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    Mute rose sheridan
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    Jul 17th 2025, 4:18 AM

    @Mark Donnelly: wonder what proportion of parcels actually get delived/received on the door step? I usually have to collect mine back in the storage depot…

    3
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    Mute Niall Hearty
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    Jul 17th 2025, 3:55 PM

    @rose sheridan: if it is left at your door step and somebody steals it who are you gonna blame? The post man for leaving it. So that is why they leave a form in your letterbox for you to collect your parcel in the sorting office. To protect your unattended parcel from theft

    1
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    Mute KO
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    Jul 17th 2025, 2:15 AM

    Was okay until MM said An Post is fine financially, didn’t he claim that there was no bank bail out ? !

    10
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    Mute Damian Ryan
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    Jul 16th 2025, 10:58 PM

    An Post
    Is a courier company not a post company now..
    They deliver for Amazon, dpd, etc. They have not got the infrastructure,, it’s management’s fault.

    6
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    Mute gregory pym
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    Jul 17th 2025, 5:36 PM

    Sounds like the Minister paid consultants to paint as grim a picture as possible about An Post in order to set it up to be sold off to a FFG friendly Investment Fund. Please take this loss making outfit etc etc

    1
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    Mute David O' Mahoney
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    Jul 17th 2025, 4:07 PM

    The Journal would rather take down a post pointing out their lazy editing rather than rewrite it correctly. Speaks volumes. Culture of indifference rather prevalent instead of encouraging correct reportage. Hacks being overseen by hacks.

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    Mute donal finn
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    Jul 17th 2025, 1:03 PM

    The Micky uttering more hogwash again.

    1
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