INISHOWEN post offices
can continue paying out social welfare benefits, a
court ruled yesterday.
The European Court of Justice rejected a submission
from the EU Commission that challenged the Irish
Government's decision to award the contract to An
Post.
The court ruling was welcomed by a North West MEP
who said it would help rural post offices throughout
the country to survive.
Independent MEP, Marian Harkin said: “This has been
a very important victory for the Irish Government
and it will be a great relief to the operators of
our post offices."
However, she feared the Commission would mount
another challenge at a future date.
“The future of our rural post offices, in
particular, will be at risk if An Post loses the
social welfare contract in the future and there is
an urgent need to evaluate today’s judgement to
assess the threat which could emerge should the
European Commission mount a more effective challenge
in the future." |
