Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of today's meeting is for the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to continue its consideration of the future of the An Post network. We recently had a productive meeting on this matter with The Irish Postmasters' Union, and we are expecting An Post to meet the committee on 15 of June to continue our consideration.

Today I am very pleased to welcome, on behalf of the committee, the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, who is accompanied by Ms Jenny O'Hora, principal officer with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. I thank the Minister of State for accommodating the committee with this rescheduled meeting.

Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. If the witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex to participate in public meetings. I will not be able to permit a member to participate where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precinct will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard I ask any member partaking via MS Teams to confirm, prior to making a contribution to the meeting, that he or she is on the grounds of the Leinster House campus. If attending in the committee room, members are asked to exercise personal responsibility to protect themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19.

I now invite the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, to make her opening statement.