Results 5,581-5,600 of 26,228 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: The committee is hugely supportive of postmasters and the work An Post does. We want to see its range of services expand. In the medium term, the national digital strategy is clearly a space we need to go into. We would also like to follow up on the SEAI because there are huge waiting lists and there are schemes out there and maybe An Post can provide an add-on and assist in that. The key...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: That needs to be done so that there is certainty for postmasters the length and breadth of the country and so they will know they are making income and can make a livelihood, which is hugely important for people. Does An Post know how many of its 872 postmasters are solo operators and are not employing anyone? Does An Post have that level of detail?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: We support and applaud the work they do. I want to finish on a productive note. The discussions on the €10 million must take place quickly and clarity must be brought. We want to assist in expanding the range of services. The following matter is the most important of all and I cannot overstate that it is hard to put an economic value on the network. It is hard to quantify but once...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Does An Post have the magic formula?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: What can An Post do?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is simple for us-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: For us on the ground the biggest difficulty with passports are: the photograph; the consent form where the applicants are children; and things being signed properly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Has An Post put any proposals to Government on this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Has An Post put a business case to the Department of Foreign Affairs?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Tell me what An Post could do.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Correct.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: The paper applications that go in would purely be posted at the local post office.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Does the postmaster do anything at the moment to assist people with that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Do they do that as a matter of course?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is that something An Post has set out as procedure?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will make the following suggestion. Rather than it being a general discussion I ask An Post to be quite specific on what it can do. Anything that assists people with passports is helpful. An Post is in the community and it is online. This is something we would take up and follow up with the Department of Foreign Affairs as An Post falls directly under our line as a semi-State body. An...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: If An Post does that straight away, it is something we would proactively take up. We will take up anything that proactively assists people. People are under such pressure with passports and Ms Byrne is correct that even when they apply online, they still have to get the consent form.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: In many cases the post office could provide a validation check on photographs. We have to retain the integrity of the passport application process. These are the types of services that we have to look outside the box with. I ask An Post to give us a proposal and let us follow it up with the Department of Foreign Affairs on its behalf. We will look to be constructive and proactive on this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: That would make a huge difference. We will follow up on this again. There needs to be speed and efficiency in coming up with the details on the package for postmasters; that is vital.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: We thank all the postmasters and staff of An Post for the phenomenal work they do for the public. During the pandemic every household got to know their post delivery person, man or woman, invariably with a parcel for a daughter or son that was purchased online. I am familiar with it and they were working seven days per week. I thank Ms Byrne and Mr. Watt for assisting the committee in...