Results 6,261-6,280 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: I thank the Deputy for his questions. I was shocked by the figures presented to me at the end of October 2016 because I had been presented with a different set of figures shortly before then. As a result, I asked New Economy and Recovery Authority, NewERA, which is part of the National Treasury Management Agency, NTMA, and which was established to advise Ministers on the operation of...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: I will let Mr. McRedmond answer that. In respect of the Deputy's comment on "some or all" of the business, I have said - and the company has agreed to this - that this will be a voluntary decision by individual postmasters and there will be an opportunity for the community to have An Post review the decision. Mr. McRedmond has given an example of one area where An Post has decided to...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: I will first respond to Deputy Martin Kenny. There has been an expansion of postal services in the past two years since my appointment as Minister. An Post vans can now be seen in rural communities on Saturdays, which never happened before other than at Christmas. That is because An Post now provides a parcel service to every townland in rural Ireland six days a week. There has been an...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: Regarding Killeshandra-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: Regarding Killeshandra and Littleton post offices, which have been mentioned, there is a review mechanism. The community can make a submission and make the case in that regard. There is also an opportunity for retailers within those communities, if they want to take on some or all of those services, to make contact with An Post. The independent appeals body will also review the decision by...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: Deputy Ryan is right that we need to exploit technology and see what new innovative services we can provide through An Post. I take the point he makes regarding transport services. Any colleagues here that have stopped and met with any of the postmen or postwomen over the past six months, who look into the van, will see that there is not much space for passengers because thankfully those...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: Deputy Lawless wants to expand this into a far bigger issue. We have introduced the sheep welfare scheme and expanded the disadvantaged area scheme payment. The broadband plan is nearing completion at the moment under the contract we signed with Eir. We are bringing high-speed broadband to one home every minute of every working day. By the middle of next year every singe post office will...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: In previous times-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: If we are discussing the 2011 Government, I note that in the Fianna Fáil manifesto of 2011 there was no mention of post offices at all, good, bad or indifferent. I want to move away from that. Deputy Lawless makes a fair point. Sean Fogarty in Ballymore Eustace has been looking at innovative ways to bring footfall into his post office and expand it. His is one of the ten pilot areas...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: Surprise, surprise. I was not expecting that at all.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: There was a campaign by previous Governments, yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: That was not done by this Government.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: That plan changed under this Government.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: It has been implemented in full.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: Five.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: It was not.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: I will start with Senator O'Donnell. As she knows, the investment and lodgements that are made with An Post are managed by the NTMA, and they are invested in capital projects around the country. On the 230 post offices that have been unviable until now and remain part of the network, they are critical to the development of the new services we spoke about earlier such as banking and...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: I will try to be as brief as possible. To those members of the public who happen to be watching these proceedings, I note that Senator Mac Lochlainn is right in that there has been a gradual collapse in the post office network. The reason that happened is that no Minister wanted to be put in the position in which I have been placed today. I am trying to set out a viable future for the post...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: There will be a stakeholder forum is what I said.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)
Denis Naughten: I will begin by dealing with Deputy Pringle's question about my responsibilities as Minister. I am responsible for the postal sector, including the governance of An Post. An Post is a commercial semi-State company with a mandate to act commercially. It has statutory responsibility for the State's postal service and the post office network. I am responsible for the governance aspect. ...