Postmasters have urged the Government and An Post to sit down with them for two days to hammer out a future for the postal network and put an end to the uncertainty hanging over it.

A working group to transform post offices into “social hubs” offering numerous community, financial, and retail services has been established.

Postmasters across the country have refused to deliver thousands of social protection forms, returning them to the Government in protest.

Members of the Irish Postmasters Union today returned thousands of social protection forms, which they refused to distribute, to the Department.

A couple who saved a trio of UCC students from being jailed in Thailand has been found; Enda Kenny has said that the delay caused by last week's referendum has cost Greece dearly; Scientists working at CERN say they have discovered a new kind of particle; and watch what happens when two men walk aound Moscow holding hands. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com

Eight candidates are preparing to contest the general election over the threat to hundreds of rural and urban post office services.

The first of eight "post office candidates" is to launch her bid for the Dáil today.

The process to identify new opportunities for the post office network begins today.

The Irish Postmasters Union says moving motor tax renewal services to post offices will save the government money.

The Irish Postmasters Union has called for motor tax renewal services to be made available from post offices in a move designed to save money and boost local business.

Government inaction could lead to the closure of hundreds of post offices in the coming years, it has been claimed.

The Irish Postmasters’ Union campaign demanding that the Government produce an action plan to ensure the sustainability of the Post Office network will continue tonight with a public rally in Co Clare.

More than 500 post offices are at risk of closure if the government continues to move to electronic payments.

A new process for the renewal of drivers licences in Ireland comes into effect from today.

Postmasters have called on the Government to stall plans to phase out cash welfare payments until the likely damage to post office business is assessed.

The Government is being called on to put in place a strategy to ensure the long-term survival of the post office network.

TWO elements of infrastructure which have undergone major change in rural Ireland over the past decade have been post offices and pubs. Both are regarded as integral to rural communities, acting on one level as essential to warding off rural isolation.

The General Secretary of the Irish Postmasters Union has said he is not surprised that An Post says it needs to axe 2,000 jobs by 2015 as a result of the recession.

Post Offices want to be central to any reform of the banking system in Ireland.

THE decision by the European Court to dismiss the European Commission’s legal action against awarding the social welfare contract to An Post is to be welcomed.

Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey is calling on postmasters to use dialogue to address their concerns about the future of smaller post offices.

Postmasters are organising a national protest to highlight the threat they say is facing local post offices.

POST offices raised concerns over increased security risks after the Government announced an extra €157 million will be handed out over the festive season.

Post offices raised concerns over increased security risks today after the Government announced an extra €157m will be handed out over the festive season.

The Irish Postmasters Union has issued a renewed warning about the future of the post office network due to a lack of government support.

The Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) is due to hold talks with An Post management today about security concerns arising from a recent spate of so-called 'tiger robberies'.

Armed tiger kidnappers struck again today targeting the family of another post office worker just one day after an almost identical attack.

Gardaí were tonight hunting three men who abducted a 62-year-old post office worker from outside her home during a botched tiger kidnapping.

The union which represents post masters has claimed the sector is at crisis point, and it is calling on both the Minister for Communications and An Post to take action.

THE country’s remaining sub-post offices could face extinction because more and more social welfare payments are being processed through banks, Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) president Joe McArdle has said.

The Irish Postmasters Union has demanded that the Government introduce a subsidy scheme to keep rural post offices open.

The Irish Postmasters Union has reportedly warned that many of its members are considering leaving the business due a spate of recent raids in rural areas.

I WOULD like to know what others think of the plan by Communications Minister Noel Dempsey to force An Post to bring in postcodes by January 2008?

IT was inevitable, given the recent increase of serious crime involving guns, that somebody would be killed in the course of a robbery and, unfortunately, it happened yesterday during the attempted robbery at the post office in Lusk.

Union leaders warned 140 TDs and Senators today that the fabric of local communities would be lost unless the Government stepped in to save post offices.

Postmasters have been lobbying Oireachtas members on the issue of low pay.

The Irish Postmasters Union today launched a radio advertising campaign urging people to make use of sub post offices to ensure their survival.

FOUR hundred sub-post offices will not be able to accept payment for speeding fines next year unless the Government provides them with computers, the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) warned yesterday.