Results 3,181-3,200 of 9,380 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: 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...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: It is critical. The staff in Dublin Airport have been fantastic despite being under enormous pressure in recent weeks and months. I have received considerable positive feedback about the staff dealing with passengers in very difficult circumstances. It is important that staff are paid. Issues with IT and salaries need to be dealt with immediately. People cannot be working overtime and...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: Those are matters for the DAA. I have been very clear that it needs to deal with these issues and come out with clear communications to the passengers, particularly this weekend, reassuring that them that while there may be queues, they will get on their flights and they will be able to move through the airport in a safe manner. We are expecting the public to be given that reassurance this...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: They have gone through the training required for security and all that. The question is what the Army would be asked to do. Would it be managing crowds of passengers? Other organisations can do that.

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

Hildegarde Naughton: Nothing is off the table from the Government's point of view. The DAA needs to ensure it does all it can do to maximise its resources and manage the passengers. As we all know, the Army is involved in critical valuable work.

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

Hildegarde Naughton: We do not want to call it in unnecessarily when other resources can be used by a commercial entity, the DAA, whose role is to manage passengers through the airport. I am listening to them. I have met the chair of the DAA and I have met members of the DAA management board every day this week. Yesterday I met representatives of SIPTU to discuss workers. I am acutely aware of all the issues....

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

Hildegarde Naughton: This is a grant from the State going to postmasters via An Post. There is no tax liability from our side on it. A tax liability would be up to An Post. The intention here is that this funding is going to the postmasters, protecting the most vulnerable. It is a direct grant from the State to the postmasters via An Post. We do not have any involvement with tax, PRSI or anything like that.

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.