18.—(1) Before the end of the period for which the designation of An Post is continued under subsection (2)(a)(i) or (5) of section 17 or, as the case may be, before the end of the period for which a universal postal service provider is designated under subsection (2)(a)(ii) of that section or, in a case where a universal postal service provider is designated under this section, before the end of the period for which the provider is so designated, the Commission—

(a) shall conduct a review of the designation, and

(b) may with effect from the expiry of that period—

(i) decide to designate one or more than one postal service provider as a universal postal service provider for such period, subject to subsection (4), as the Commission considers appropriate, or

(ii) decide that no such designation is required.

(2) Where the Commission makes a decision—

(a) with the prior consent of the Minister, under section 17(2)(b), or

(b) under subsection (1)(b)(ii),

it shall, at such intervals as it considers appropriate, conduct a review under section 19 for the purpose of deciding whether a designation of one or more than one postal service provider as a universal postal service provider is required and may decide that—

(i) no such designation is required for the time being, or

(ii) such designation is required for such period, subject to subsection (4), as the Commission considers appropriate,

and this section applies to a decision made under subparagraph (i) or (ii), as the case may be, as it applies to a decision made under subparagraph (i) or (ii) of subsection (1)(b).

(3) The Commission may determine that different universal postal service providers, the subject of a designation made by the Commission under section 17(2)(a)(ii) or this section, shall provide different parts of the universal postal service or provide that service in respect of all or any part or parts of the State, or both, having regard to the need to ensure that there is no duplication of the obligations imposed on each universal postal service provider so designated.

(4) The designation of a universal postal service provider by the Commission under section 17(2)(a)(ii) or this section—

(a) shall be for such period as the Commission considers appropriate, having regard to the need to ensure that the designation is of sufficient duration for the return on investments,

(b) shall take effect 14 days after the date on which notice of approval of the terms and conditions of its universal postal service provision is published under section 23(2)(a), and

(c) shall cease to have effect—

(i) on the date on which the designation of a universal postal service provider takes effect under paragraph (b), or

(ii) on the date on which the Commission decides that no such designation is required.