Results 2,721-2,740 of 8,928 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: Everyone-----

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

Hildegarde Naughton: Everyone will receive something but it will be based on incentives and on a pyramid system where we are targeting those which are least viable at the moment. This makes sense.

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

Hildegarde Naughton: That is the concern right across the country. This is about communities and people having access to their local post office.

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

Hildegarde Naughton: It is grant aid which is based on state aid rules and we all know the criteria around state aid. This is about funding post offices which otherwise would not be able to-----

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

Hildegarde Naughton: My aim with this package is to ensure that our existing network of post offices remain open. It is my aim and objective, as well as An Post's, to drive more business and to get more services into these post offices. That is why, as well as part of my call today, which is a very positive and historic day for post offices, that we are asking local people to start using their local post...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: Taking the Department of Transport, for example, motor tax is one area we will be looking at in providing that revenue. That Department said that it would potentially have services that could be provided off-line and could go through the post office network. The Department of Social Protection has also said that. That is why that as part of that interdepartmental group this needs to be a...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: There is a huge drive in An Post and it has the capability to pitch for online and offline services there. That is what my aim is. At the end of the day, this is about communities. What is the aim here? The social value is difficult to try to quantify but we all appreciate it. It is that the service is there. We know the effect. I spoke to a postmaster yesterday, as I mentioned...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Senator. It is much appreciated.

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

Hildegarde Naughton: It is based on state aid rules approval which has to be got, but there will not be an issue with that.

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

Hildegarde Naughton: Yes. It is a cross-Government matter. It is not just one Department. There are potentially some services that are available but they are under contract at the moment so we have to wait for those. It must be a whole-of-government approach for there to be offline services available for communities across the country.

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

Hildegarde Naughton: It is a pyramid system so it will be targeted at the post offices that are most in need and struggling the most. It will be based on that. An Post will be working with the IPU on the consultation in that regard. Approval from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will be required. I do not yet have the details of it. They have to be worked out. However, that is the principle....

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

Hildegarde Naughton: There will also be an incentivised payment to promote commerciality as part of that mix. The details have to be worked out but we are protecting the most vulnerable post offices.

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

Hildegarde Naughton: There will also be incentivisations for commercial activity as part of that.

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

Hildegarde Naughton: Is the Deputy referring to the provision of banking services?

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

Hildegarde Naughton: An Post is actively working on commercial initiatives that can be rolled out across the network. That is something it is working on. The work on offline services or other State services is happening at an all-of-government level. As I said at the outset, when I looked at the interdepartmental report, it was very clear to me that this alone would not be enough to keep our post offices open....

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

Hildegarde Naughton: I am aware that representatives of An Post are appearing before the committee in the next few weeks. That is something to raise with them. I know that An Post is actively looking at further incentives and business that can be driven through the post office network.

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

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy will be aware, I have had ongoing engagement with the DAA. I do not need to say it, but we are all very clear that what happened on Sunday cannot happen again and cannot be repeated. We have had very robust engagement with the DAA. I know that representatives of the authority appeared before the committee earlier and, therefore, members are well briefed on its plans. I will...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: These are the questions that I have put to the DAA. The crux of the issue seems to be around the security staff who are X-ray scanners and are specially trained. That seems to be the issue. There are other issues across the airport around managing queues. There are plenty of companies out there that provide services to manage crowds going to concerts, for example. If the DAA needs to...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: Of course. The DAA is a commercial entity. On the issue of the use of the Army, it has been mentioned by the DAA and it has come up in discussions. It is unclear what the Army would do at this point, particularly coming into the weekend. As I have said, the crux of the matter is around security officers who are specially trained and have to have a particular certification to do that...