Results 3,261-3,280 of 9,442 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The issue of printing was raised with me by postmasters who were identifying some of these services they could provide. That is a good idea and I will ask my officials to explore it with An Post. The Deputy is right about the opportunities with the provision of banking through the post office network. The commercial contracts are negotiated by An Post and so it would need to be through that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Can I pair? I do not believe I am paired.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Has it been ringing long?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The vote is regarding the Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank Deputy Shanahan. It was a very positive visit to Waterford Airport and to celebrate 20 years of the search and rescue service there. To reiterate what I said when I visited the airport, the commitment from the Government to help fund a runway there still stands. There are conditions around that, of which everyone is aware, regarding a proposal coming from Waterford Airport in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank Deputy Carey for his engagement with me and my officials in respect of this important matter. It is important that we get the message out to people that they need to use their post offices in order to support the network as we roll out services. An Post, which is an independent, commercial, semi-State company, has a strategy and a mandate to ensure that there is increased services...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy for his comments about An Post. I want to acknowledge Ms Jenny O'Hora from the Department. She was instrumental in leading on this matter and getting this package over the line. With regard to aviation, regional connectivity is absolutely critical. I am from Galway and use Shannon Airport regularly. It is great to walk through the baggage control having all your...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I imagine it will start again in the latter part of this year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Absolutely. It has to.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: My priority is to ensure that we can maintain regional connectivity. Shannon Airport is critical for the mid-west. I am constantly reviewing this matter. Shannon meets the criteria for the regional airports programme - it has scheduled flights and its passenger numbers are what they have been for two years in a row. We must ensure that we maintain Shannon Airport and that it thrives and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: We have already announced the capital funding for this year's regional airports programme. Operational funding will be announced later this year. I imagine it will be at the end of the year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: That is my understanding, but I will revert to the Deputy and we can have an ongoing engagement. I assure the Deputy that there is a commitment to support Shannon Airport in whatever way we can and to ensure that it does the business that it does best, which is commercial activity and engaging and negotiating with airlines. We do not want the funding to just be a handout.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Shannon does not want that either. It wants to do its own business and we want to facilitate it in doing so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Officials in my Department will be engaging with Shannon Group's CEO on supports as we exit the pandemic, as we have been with all airports across the country. I will revert to the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: It was apparent to me early on after entering my Ministry that the services being explored by various Departments would not be adequate to maintain the existing post office network and that more work needed to be done across the Government in order to identify potential services that could be provided offline. Under the Government's digital strategy, 90% of services are to be provided...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: What this financial package does – it is what the postmasters and postmistresses were asking for from me and the Senator as they travelled around the country – for the first in the history of the State is to ensure that if a postmaster or postmistress wants to retire for personal reasons, it will not be because his or her post office is not viable. In other words, it will not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: It is up to the postmaster. There will be incentives for providing more services, be they banking or whatever, working with An Post on the provision of these services. An Post is providing training to postmasters. It is also its role to identify and work with postmasters on the provision of extra services. There is also a call on members of the public to use their local post office. If...