Results 61-80 of 501 for speaker:Noel O'Flynn

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: I have just completed four years as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and during that period we engaged with the management of An Post, the trade unions, particularly, the Irish Postmasters Union, other stakeholders, customers, ComReg and the Minister. At one of our meetings I was horrified to learn that the then CEO had not interacted verbally...

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: I am delighted that the industrial relations difficulties experienced by the company in 2005 were resolved with the assistance of the Labour Relations Commission, the Labour Court and the national implementation body. At the core of the dispute was the implementation of a comprehensive restructuring agreement, as well as non-payment of Sustaining Progress increases. The restructuring...

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: ——and provided its members with incorrect financial information.

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: The name of that individual is listed in transcripts of the joint committee's proceedings and I need not mention it here. However, we were fed a line of information on the sound finances of the company. When the CEO to whom I refer was replaced six months later, we discovered from his successor what the real position of the company was. It is disheartening for me to recall the selling off...

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: I see Deputy Broughan has joined the debate. As I was saying, €150 million in moneys available to the company to expand and develop its operations was wasted. I was very disappointed — I am sure my colleagues felt the same way — at the time.

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: There are 995 automated and 404 non-automated post offices and 161 postal agencies. A pilot scheme was introduced last year in which ten post offices participated. All post offices should be automated.

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: In this age of technology we are promoting e-government, e-parliament and e-commerce——

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: Does the Deputy want me to be fired? I have only three or four months to go in this job.

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: Smaller post offices are operating at a disadvantage vis-À-vis their larger counterparts. They will operate at a further disadvantage if the new financial systems are introduced. They also operate at a disadvantage because, as the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, stated, many are opting for electronic payments. When this report and that relating to the pilot scheme are considered in 2007,...

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: The Minister of State has indicated post office work is high volume in nature and involves low margin transactions such as welfare and utility bill payments. Such payments can be transferred to any banking facility. As the Minister of State said, the network is dependent on the two contracts currently in place, namely, that relating to social welfare payments and the NTMA's small savings...

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: I urge the head of the union, Mr. John O'Kane, who has enjoyed a good relationship with the various members of the joint committee to return to the negotiations, embrace the changes and obtain proper recompense for his members.

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: I am concerned about the future. An Post has a reasonably good board and management team and a dedicated workforce which is fully committed to the company. Everyone involved is willing and able to meet the challenges of liberalisation which will come about in 2009. I am sure the company will improve its next-day delivery service. A previous speaker referred to a level of 74% in this...

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: Who will be better qualified after 2009 than our postal workers to be present at the cutting edge of communications and postal deliveries? Who has a proven track record? When the sector is liberalised, why should we allow others to take business away from them? I want them to meet the challenge——

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: ——and provide a service equal to those provided throughout the rest of Europe.

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: They have the competence to do this. If they are successful in this regard, they will continue to receive the support of the public and businesses.

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: I have been totally confused by the interventions of Deputies Durkan and Broughan.

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: Deputies Durkan and Broughan have me where they want me because I have them where I want them when chairing the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: I hope that the Minister will see the importance of maintaining the universal service obligation, USO, which guarantees a delivery five days a week, something mentioned by the Opposition, when he enters detailed discussions on it.

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: With his EU colleagues, he should look very closely at funding the USO in a liberalised postal market, ensuring that it is not divided, with private operators servicing more lucrative parts while leaving An Post with the uneconomic remnant.

Postal Services: Motion (5 Dec 2006)

Noel O'Flynn: Liberalisation will provide An Post with a clear imperative to concentrate on company restructuring to develop a strongly customer-focused ethos.