Evanne Ní Chuilinn
Nominated by the Taoiseach · Fine Gael · Ireland
“When we talk about empowering girls and women in sport, putting them on a pedestal and making sure they are in the media and public eye, it is important to differentiate between celebrating Irish women in sport and giving out about what is wrong.”
“Today, we had the funding announcement for the women in sport programme. A total of €4 million is going into it. While this is something that happens every year, it is important to acknowledge it when it comes around because the moment we stop acknowledging and calling for it is the moment it falls off the agenda and no longer becomes a f…”
“Online platforms that say they are trying to promote women need to actually do so, rather than always giving out about what is wrong. I have seen social media companies complain and be outraged about something that happened to a woman in sport.”
“I was encouraged to see some of the detail in the Bill around the 125% increase in funding for offices located more than 15 km from the nearest post office. We have seen a couple of issues with post offices that have closed over the past couple of years. We had one close in Bluebell, in Dublin, a couple of years ago.”
“I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad for this very important legislation. It is a very short Bill but a very impactful one. The Postal and Telecommunications Services (Amendment) Bill 2026 amends the 1983 Act to provide a legal basis for increased State funding to support the nationwide post office network.”
“I am encouraged as well to see transactions up by 10%, which does bode well for the viability of the network. It shows that there is a continued use of the services by the public. I fully support this Bill. As was said, it is very short legislation but very impactful.”
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“Another telling part of the postmasters' pre-budget submission spoke about how post offices were the last in-person link between the State and citizens and that they were trusted anchors in communities right across the country, both in rural and urban settings. At an Oireachtas joint committee hearing this year, the Irish Postmaster' Union president, Ms. Sean Martin, said the post offices could be the front door for all Government services. He noted that if this did not happen, the front door would close and post offices would close one by one. As well as the funding injection, another way in which we can further support our post office network is by expanding the offering of State services through our network of post offices. We already rely on our post office network for the administration of public services and welfare payments.”
“We know that our post offices are in a unique position whereby they cannot respond in the same way as other businesses to cost pressures due to contractual arrangements with An Post and that they are also precluded from accessing business supports available to other small enterprises due to these relationships. The good news, however, is that with the additional funding, 70% of postmasters say that their post offices can remain viable. The multi-annual funding of €10 million was due to expire at the end of this year, and so the commitment to an increase to €15 million per year for the next five years was both crucial and timely. However, as Senator Comyn has said, we need to ensure that the postmasters and their investments and opportunities are kept to the forefront of any agenda within the Department.”
“It was therefore encouraging to see in last month's budget that the call to action referenced by the Irish Postmasters' Union was heard and acted upon. The annual capital support for the post office network has been increased from €10 million to €15 million in 2026. This funding is in a direct response to the Grant Thornton report mentioned by Senator Conway, which highlighted the risk of up to one third of rural post offices closing if it did not receive €15 million in annual investment. The report from Grant Thornton, commissioned by the Irish Postmasters' Union, stated that since 2020, operating costs had risen sharply during the cost-of-living crisis and inflation of 15%.”
“The Irish Postmasters' Union is certainly getting a great airing in the Seanad today, and rightly so. The union told us in its pre-budget submission last September that ine out of ten people said that their post office was essential. It went on to say that it was not just public sentiment, but a call to action. Communities want their post offices and they want the Government to act now to save them. I welcome the opportunity this afternoon to discuss our post office network once again. We had a very engaging and informative discussion in relation to postmasters and An Post's network before the summer recess. The main topic of debate at the time was the urgent call for investment and an increase of annual funding from €10 million to €15 million per year.”
“I realised on my walk down to the local park run, which I do every Saturday, that I know Pico's mother very well but I did not know that Pico was her son. I was very embarrassed that I had not made that connection. Judy Lopes is a secretary in the Loreto junior school in Crumlin and she does great work. I stood on the picket line with her very recently and still did not know she was Pico's mother. Judy was looking forward on Saturday to getting little baby Diego back for Sunday dinner, so I hope that they did. I congratulate Crumlin's Pico Lopes, wish him the very best of luck at the World Cup, and, of course, welcome baby Diego to the family.”
“I take this opportunity to congratulate Pico Lopes, who is originally from Crumlin. He plays centre back for Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland, has played in the League of Ireland for a long number of years and, due to his father's patronage, is now playing for Cape Verde and will go to the World Cup, which we learned last week. It is an amazing opportunity. He is quoted in the Dublin Gazette today as saying he is the luckiest man in the world. He is; he is very lucky, but he also became a father on Friday afternoon. At 4.30 p.m. his partner, Leah O'Shaughnessy, who is a teacher in Tallaght, went in for a routine check and ended up having a little baby boy called Diego Lopes, so I congratulate the Lopes family.”
“She is the only staff member in the centre; everybody else is voluntary. Congratulations on getting the funding over the line. We will continue to advocate for the Loreto Centre into the future.”
“Various representatives in the area have been campaigning behind the scenes for the last number of weeks and months to get essential funding, because the Loreto Centre was established 25 years ago by the Loreto order, but it is pulling back from its services in Ireland, so the centre was going to have to close unless it got emergency funding. It needs €100,000 every year, which is not a lot of money when you consider that 40 counsellors work and deliver sessions to 250 people every single year. The news today was very welcome. There was a meeting with the HSE last week and the centre has been awarded €65,000 in funding for now and next year. We will have to revisit this in 2027 and I will have to start giving out again, but for now, I just want to congratulate Anca Lupu, the manager.”
“I was going to start by giving out about something, and then I got an email this morning which was very good news, so I no longer need to give out. The Loreto Centre Crumlin does amazing work. It provides free counselling and psychotherapy services to the people of Crumlin and its environs. About 41 counsellors are working there free of charge, which obviously takes massive pressure off the HSE locally. They deliver 3,000 sessions to 250 people every year. Those people would not afford counselling and they certainly would not be joining a HSE waiting list to try to get access to that counselling.”
“I echo a couple of things before I get started. The first is about Ann Woodlock. Ann is from Drimnagh. I know her well. I see her every Saturday doing the park run. She is the best of us and she beats the best of us every single Saturday. Congratulations to her on her gold medal at the weekend and the best of luck this weekend in her next event. I also echo Senator Nelson Murray's comments about an Tánaiste, Simon Harris. Notwithstanding the fact that I would not be here without Simon Harris, the benefit or advantage that we have is that we see what Simon does behind the scenes. He is the hardest of workers. He knows his brief so well. He is a role model for all the rest of us who are budding politicians. We wish him well this afternoon.”
“D'ardaigh mé rud éigin an tseachtain seo caite mar gheall ar mhaoiniú ar son TG4 ionas go mbeadh neamhspleáchas eagarthóireachta aige ina sheomra nuachta agus sna cláir nuachta a chuireann sé ar fáil. Fáiltím roimh an mhaoiniú sa bhuiséad inniu ón Roinn a chiallaíonn go mbeidh €65.4 milliún ar fáil do TG4, lena n-áirítear méadú €5.4 milliún, chun ábhar Gaeilge ar ardchaighdeán, cláir do pháistí agus seirbhísí nuachta níos leithne a chinntiú. Níl na mionsonraí againn go fóill, ach mar a dúirt mé an tseachtain seo caite, níl cead ag TG4 na meáin shóisialta a úsáid. Níl cead aige cuntais a bheith acu, cuntais Instagram, X agus TikTok ina measc. Tá súil agam go dtiocfaidh an neamhspleáchas leis an maoiniú seo. Fáiltím roimh an maoiniú agus is féidir linn fanacht ar na sonraí ar fad.”
“De réir tuairiscí anois, tá stop curtha leis an bpróiséas sin agus ní fios cén fáth. A cheannaire, tá an spéis chéanna i gcúrsaí nuachta ag lucht féachana na Gaeilge is atá ag lucht féachana an Bhéarla. Braitheann daonlathas láidir ar sheirbhís nuachta cruinn, agus tá sé de dhualgas orainn san Oireachtas an cheist a chur ar an Roinn, ar RTÉ agus ar Choimisiúin na Meán cén fáth nach bhfuil aon dul chun cinn déanta maidir le seo ó 2022 ar aghaidh.”
“Anuas air sin, níl sé de cheart ag Nuacht TG4 cúntas Instagram, X nó TikTok a bhunú, rud atá an-aisteach do dhaonolathas na tíre seo. I mo bharúil, tá sé de cheart ag pobal labhartha na Gaeilge a chuid nuacht a fháil trí mheán na Gaeilge, agus is cosúil gur sin a dúirt an moladh ón gCoimisiún um Thodhchaí na Meán trí bliana ó shin. Cén fáth mar sin go bhfuil moill ar an bpróiséas neamhspleáchas? Ní dóigh liom go bhfuil sé maith go leor, nach bhfuil aon dul chun chinn déanta ón uair sin. Rud amháin eile atá ag cur isteach orm maidir le seo ná go bhfuil stop curtha leis an bpróiseas earcaíochta do cheannaire nuachta agus cursaí reatha TG4. Fógraíodh an post i mí na Bealtaine seo caite nuair a tháinig Deirdre Ní Choistín i gcomharbacht ar Alan Esslemont mar ardstiúrthóir an stáisiúin.”
“Bhí sé iontach an tacaíocht ar fad maidir leis an nGaeilge agus an chraoltóireacht trí mheán na Gaeilge a chloisteáil mar is é sin atá ar intinn agam a phlé tráthnóna. Ba mhaith liom aird a tharraingt ar an éiginnteacht atá ann go fóill mar gheall ar sheirbhís nuachta neamhspleách do TG4. In 2022, ghlac an Rialtas le moladh ón gCoimisiún um Thodhchaí na Meán go mbeadh "ceannas neamhspleách eagarthóireachta" ag TG4 ar a sholáthar nuachta chun seirbhís níos fearr a chur ar fail dá lucht féachana, rud a luaigh an Seanadóir Flynn cúpla nóiméad ó shin. Faoi láthair, is RTÉ a chuireann “Nuacht TG4” agus “Seacht Lá” ar fáil do TG4. Mar thoradh air sin, áfach, níl sé de cheart ag iriseoirí nó léiritheoirí nuachta scéal úr nó nua a bhriseadh ar TG4, go dtí go bhfuil sé briste nó craolta ar RTÉ.”
“If this agenda goes through at the EGM next week, it will have to be raised with the Minister in terms of Government funding.”
“It says there should limits to the terms of office for board members, which are currently eight years in total, and that the limit for all members of the board should be eight years, comprising four years by two terms. The FAI wants to change that. It would, for example, allow a nine- or ten-year term. This is tied to Government funding. It was raised briefly at the end of the hearing yesterday and Sport Ireland was not aware that this AGM is due to happen next week. I wanted to put it on the record in this House to make sure that the Minister knows that the committee knows. As I said earlier, this memorandum of understanding is tied to Government funding. As of yesterday, the FAI is already in a little bit of hot water again in relation to its safeguarding but it is very important that we do not lose sight of overall governance.”
“A deeper dive into the appendix shows that this is calling for the term limits of board members to be extended to reflect the proposed term limits of three years instead of two years and subsequent changes in rotation cycles. This cannot happen. In a very basic sense, the FAI wants to give permission to board directors to stay in position for nine years instead of eight and for the chair and vice-chair to stay in position for 12 years instead of eight. This is completely contradictory to the understanding the Government has with the FAI. There is a memorandum of understanding in place. It is utterly tied to funding. Sport Ireland has been a keeping a tracker of the governance review and of the memorandum of understanding. Item 64 of the review relates to term limits. It has been identified as having been completed.”
“Ní raibh mé anseo ar an Máirt agus ní raibh deis agam comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le Martin Hughes. I was not here on Tuesday as I was in Brussels. I congratulate Martin and look forward to working with him over the next few years. We had a very robust debate relating to the FAI's safeguarding issues at yesterday's sitting of the Oireachtas committee on sport. I will not get into that here, but I will just say the committee is not satisfied with the answers we received. Senator Comyn was also there. We have to call them back in again in relation to what transpired yesterday. One issue I did not have an opportunity to raise yesterday was in relation to governance. The FAI has called an EGM for 4 October. There is an agenda item on the EGM paper that relates to a special resolution on the articles of association.”
“That concludes the statements for this afternoon. I thank Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, and the Minister, Deputy Chambers, and the departmental officials for their time and engagement here today.”
“The contract with the provider of Oireachtas TV is up this year, and it is high time the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission looked at the contract because these workers are doing amazing work. None of us would have social media clips either without the work being done in these Houses by Oireachtas TV staff. I just want that marked as we enter recess and as our colleagues in the broadcast unit look at going on social welfare for the recess. It is time we supported them. As the contract is up for renewal, now is the time to do as much as we can to get them onto industry standards and the rights they deserve.”
“I echo the sentiments of many Members today in wishing everybody the best of luck over the recess. There is lots of work to be done elsewhere, but thank you to all the staff here in the Seanad, the ushers and everybody who has looked after us so well, particularly us newbies just getting used to everything. There is a group of workers here in Leinster House who face into a lot of uncertainty over the recess. The broadcast workers for Oireachtas TV face going onto social welfare while we are going into recess. Everything is very unstable and uncertain for them. Not only that, but the pay they receive is far below industry rates, even though the likes of RTÉ, Virgin Media, TG4 and others use their footage. It is broadcast quality. Speaking as a former broadcaster, it is the best of work that is being done by those broadcast workers.”
“Now is the time to identify the next Paul O'Donovan or Mona McSharry for the 2032 Olympics and beyond and to ensure their clubs have access to state-of-the-art facilities and the means to retain coaching talent in this country to the benefit of Irish sport into the future.”
“In 2024, based on our population of 5.3 million core funding in Ireland was roughly €22 per capita . In New Zealand with a similar population of 5.1 million, core funding came in at €44 per capita . Ireland won 13 medals at the last three Olympic Games but in the same period New Zealand won 58 in the Summer Olympic Games and another five in the Winter Olympic Games. This only serves to highlight what a similar sized nation with a similar climate has achieved when sport is well funded in the right areas. How exciting is that prospect? This is achievable. It is generally accepted that it takes between eight and ten years of development for an elite athlete to reach their potential.”
“Gymnastics equipment, for example, is very technical and extortionately expensive but it is like the chicken and the egg: without the equipment the Phoenix Gymnastics Club cannot coach kids like Robert Ward to the standard he needs to reach for international selection. Where possible, clubs need to be supported in accessing land, funding and facilities so we can continue to produce the talent the entire nation raves about every four years at the end of an Olympics or Paralympics cycle. Investment in people and programmes trumps everything. This point was also raised in relation to sports like boxing at the select committee last night. Core funding also speaks to the EYOF athletes hoping to make a splash at Brisbane in 2032. While our core sports funding has increased year on year I want to finish with a per capita comparison.”
“None of those 35 aspiring athletes, including the five Irish gymnasts, have reached that standard without a dedicated club coach, a local club structure, and access to high-performance facilities near their homes, schools and communities. Without local gymnastics clubs like the Phoenix Gymnastics Club or Excel Gymnastics we would not have Robert Ward or Róisín Hickey boarding a plane to represent Ireland at EYOF. If the Minister of State does not know those names now, he will for the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. My point is that clubs need to be supported or at very least need access to finance and development aids. It is increasingly difficult in today's economic climate for clubs to provide sustainable careers to their coaches at a decent salary while rents and utilities are increasing.”
“If our national governing bodies are the vehicle through which athletes find a pathway to elite sport and global recognition, the grassroots coaches, be they volunteers or fully accredited professional coaches, are the fuel. Nothing runs without the club structure. I speak especially about the sports outside of the big three. Consider gymnastics for example. Five teenage gymnasts will travel to represent Ireland at the European Youth Olympic Festival, EYOF, later this week. The EYOF is a prestigious event that plays an important role in the overall development of athletes because it mimics the Olympic Games model. This year's event will see 48 countries across Europe participate with more than 4,000 athletes, 35 of whom are Irish teenagers.”
“There is a commitment in the programme for Government to provide school-going children with 60 minutes of physical activity per day. I look forward to discussing with the Minister of State and some of his Cabinet colleagues how we can deliver this over the lifetime of this Government. The Minister of State will appreciate that without the grassroots arms of our sports we would not have champions like Kellie Harrington, Caoimhín Kelleher, Rhasidat Adeleke or Rhys McClenaghan to celebrate. Every single one of our international superstars will tell us that it all began at the local club with a coach who cared and who knew the game.”
“Yes, when they become Paralympics champions they achieve the same recognition and respect as their peers the Olympics champions. We must, however, become more aware of opening up our sports clubs and facilities to disabled athletes or children who just need that first chance to try throwing a javelin or sprinting or swimming so that the future Ellen Keanes or Jason Smyths are not lost for the lack of exposure to opportunity. Children generally deserve the chance to experience the joy of sports or simply just the high of mastering a new movement or skill. I have spoken previously about the importance of physical literacy and I believe we have a responsibility to our young people, particularly in light of increased screen time and fast food culture, to provide easy access to physical activity in schools.”
“We pride ourselves as a nation of inclusivity and nowhere should this be more to the fore than in how we develop policy and treat our transgender and non-binary athletes or those wishing to take part in sport. Sport Ireland is encouraging all national governing bodies to develop a policy for trans and non-binary sports if they do not already have one. Their ambition is to make sport as inclusive as possible so that everybody can reap the many benefits that participation in sport brings. I spoke with a person recently who does not feel welcome in the sport that they love. I would encourage all stakeholders and governing bodies to develop an inclusive policy as encouraged by Sport Ireland. Some of our greatest sports stars make their name globally in disability or para sports.”
“We need to continue to innovate and work with our governing bodies to deliver initiatives for women in disadvantaged communities, for older women, for teenage girls, for those with a disability, and for those from ethnic minorities so that the feeling of inclusivity is widespread and not simply based on gender alone. Huge strides have been taken in gender balance on boards, as the original target of 40% nationally has been surpassed in the vast majority of cases. I would add one further dimension to board composition, which is to ensure that those sports with a high performance arm have an athlete representative on their board, and possibly even one of each gender, to ensure the nuances of both disciplines and the concerns of athletes are represented in decision-making rooms.”
“Currently, the GAA has a 20% balance on the management committee, which falls far short of the 40% insisted upon by the State through Sport Ireland. At the announcement of the €31 million in core funding last February, the Minister and representatives of the Department spoke about intentions to prioritise diversity in sport over the coming years. This agenda is certainly to be welcomed. The Women in Sport movement over the last two decades has seen progress in relation to equality of opportunity and awareness but the work is not done yet. The dedicated annual Women in Sport funding is crucial to ensure that our female athletes, both present and future, feel supported and celebrated. There is a way to go yet in terms of attitudes and cultures in some quarters.”
“Access to pitches and training facilities will need to be available to male and female players on an equal footing, not unlike the requirements for any new capital projects funded by public money. Juvenile players, referees, club volunteers and senior intercounty elites alike will all need to feel like they have a voice in the new GAA. I have no doubt that the steering group led by former President Mary McAleese is laying the groundwork for that. Last night, at the Oireachtas Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, said the Government is fully supportive of integration, which is encouraging, and that he expects a funding request will come from the GAA. I know the Department will insist on all the usual funding constraints, such as gender balance on boards.”
“There are very few opportunities to reinvent the wheel when it comes to governance and culture, but this is a very exciting opportunity for all Gaels as the Camogie Association, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and the Gaelic Athletic Association prepare to amalgamate. All three organisations voted in favour of integration at their respective congresses in 2022, three years ago. When it comes to pass, and it will, integration will further strengthen the Gaelic games family. Even though I know it is not technically within the remit of the Minister, it is vitally important that we keep abreast of developments and progress in relation to the new GAA and how the various governance structures, like ardchomhairlí, provincial councils and county boards prepare for a new dawn.”
“In the same month, Dublin hosted the Europa League final for the first time in over a decade. The match was estimated to have generated €15 million and attracted thousands of German and Italian tourists to Ireland. The Ryder Cup, last hosted in Ireland at the K Club in 2006, was worth €143 million and, as the Minister said, there are our hopes that the 2027 revenue will vastly exceed that figure. However, current and future sports stars should reap the rewards of the commercial side of the sport industry into future. A landmark shift in the landscape of Irish sport will take place over the next couple of years. It is, of course, GAA integration, which was mentioned by the Minister.”
“Sometimes, sport is not sport at all, just a social outlet. The sport industry is worth €3.7 billion to the Exchequer annually. It employs more than 64,000 people and the volunteer network in sport is worth more than €1.5 million. According to the Federation of Irish Sport, the sector has grown faster than any other part of the Irish economy over the past ten years. Outside of that sits the horse sport sector, which is a key cornerstone of hundreds of rural communities across the island. That industry supports 47,000 jobs and is worth €1 billion annually. The Minister mentioned sport tourism in Ireland and that has grown exponentially in the past decade. The 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic was worth €180 million to the economy and attracted more than 39,000 US visitors to Ireland.”
“Tá sé sin go breá. Tá fáilte rompu ar fad. Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh Mary O’Connor chomh maith, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport. Sport in Ireland goes to the very essence of who we are as a nation. We define ourselves in tribal terms, whether this is by club, by county or by province. We punch above our weight as well and find creative ways to make a bigger impact globally than the small but mighty population of 5 million that we are. Sport, though, means different things to different people, and I hope during the debate we give voice to the many ways and means in which sport exists, or ought to exist, in this country. Sport is a hobby but also an industry. It is a distraction, a religion, a cure, but also a curse. Sport is a family and it is also a feud. Sport is competitive and sport is fun.”
“This is not just about subsidising struggling businesses; it is about investing in essential community infrastructure across our country. Our post office network has shown that it can offer a range of services to our communities and has kept up with the pace of technological change, expanding its offering and diversifying services. We cannot deny the cost pressures post offices are under. We must invest in the future of our post office network, as committed to in the programme for Government. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Táim ag súil lena fhreagra níos déanaí.”
“We must support them with greater funding and better pay for the work they do to ensure their viability and sustainability into the future to prevent further closures. At the recent committee meeting, the IPU president, Sean Martin, said that post offices: can be the front door for all Government services. If that does not happen, that front door will close and post offices will close one by one, and very quickly next year if the funding does not materialise. To refer to another point made by Senator Conway, it is important to note that while the move towards digitalisation is a very positive step, we have to ensure that the post office network continues to cater for people who will never move to digital services. We must be digitally inclusive and allow our postmasters the discretion to be so as well.”
“We heard from the Irish Postmasters' Union president, Sean Martin, that postmasters are being paid cents for the services they administer on behalf of the State. He cited the example of a post office handling €2,000 in carer's payments and receiving a mere 65 cent for these transactions. If we are to support our post office network, we must ensure that postmasters are fairly paid for the work they do in handling, securing and administering payments on behalf of the State. The post office network is often the most accessible way for people to access State services. As we have heard from postmasters and from An Post, they want to play an even bigger role and provide more services.”
“I know postmasters will directly help customers by reading their letters, deciphering what bills need to be paid, what needs to be done and what needs attention. They help customers to fill out forms and then deliver them wherever they need to be delivered. Some of the postmasters' representatives in the Gallery will know what I am talking about because they do this every day. This is not in the job specification but this organic relationship between postmasters and their customers is very special and very important, particularly in rural areas. This is one of the many reasons we must address the remuneration of postmasters along with increasing multi-annual funding for the network.”
“A recent survey by the Irish Postmasters' Union found that 89% of people want more Government services delivered through our post office network. It is a stated commitment of the Government to deliver on this. Along with other Members of this House, I would greatly appreciate it if the Minister of State could give an outline of the work completed on this to date in his response. I will touch on one other issue that I believe is essential to securing the future of our post office network: the issue of supporting our postmasters. I am sure the Minister of State is aware that many postmasters provide not just the official service they are contracted to provide but also an ad hoc social support for many vulnerable people in our communities.”
“We already rely on our post office network for the administration of public services and welfare payments. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to expand the range of welfare services provided through our post office network. What plans are there in the Department to expand this offering? Has work begun in collaboration with the Department of Social Protection and other Departments to expand the provision of services through our post office network? Our postmasters have already shown they can administer services on behalf of the State. The Irish Postmasters' Union expressed to the joint committee that postmasters are willing, able and eager to play an even bigger role in the delivery of Government services. The infrastructure is there. We should be utilising the valuable assets already in place in our community.”
“This has been essential in preventing even greater numbers of closures. However, the environment is still challenging and our post offices now need even more financial support to continue in operation. The good news is that 70% of postmasters say their post offices can remain viable with additional funding. The ask is well documented and simple. The multi-annual funding of €10 million per annum, which is due to expire at the end of this year, needs to increase to €15 million per annum, as Senator Joe Conway has said. Will the Minister of State commit to seeking this €15 million as part of the budget discussions? Another way in which we can further support our post office network is by expanding the offering of State services through our network of post offices.”
“Considering the worrying ongoing closure of these vital hubs in our towns and villages, we must invest in them, ensure their sustainability and acknowledge the unique operating challenges they face. The recent report from Grant Thornton commissioned by the Irish Postmasters' Union states that since 2020, operating costs have risen sharply during the cost-of-living crisis with inflation of 15%, which we are all too familiar with. We must recognise that post offices are in a unique position in that they cannot respond in the same way as other businesses to cost pressures due to contractual arrangements with An Post and that they are also precluded from accessing business supports available to other small enterprises due to these relationships. The last Government supported our post office network with multi-annual funding.”
“I hope that during the course of this debate, we can consider these issues and the Minister of State may be able to provide some assurances to postmasters, An Post and our communities that the Government will deliver on its commitment to continue to provide the network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. Our post office network faces a number of challenges, which were brought into focus at the recent hearing of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport. The most pressing of these was funding. The Irish Postmasters' Union outlined the stark reality that without additional funding, 40% of postmasters will be forced to close their post offices.”
“We have all witnessed closures like these in our communities, and we know that it makes it incredibly difficult for people to access not just postal services, but also the State services administered by An Post. To tackle this issue and prevent further closures, we must make it not only viable but sustainable and an attractive opportunity for new postmasters to do this, and we must better support our network of post offices. There have been several documented causes for post office closures, namely, funding, changes in core services and postmaster succession. The personnel shortfall was the main reason for the closure of the post office in Bluebell, that is, the lack of a successor willing to take on the role.”
“The closest post office is now in Inchicore, a bus ride away for all, which is adding not just an inconvenience but a cost to attending the local post office. Inchicore also does not have a single bank in the village, which means that the post office is the only place to do business and is, therefore, utterly oversubscribed, given how it now serves a greater area of the urban centre between Dublin 12 and Dublin 8. The postmaster in Bluebell retired, a scenario that has been replicated in many of the 250 closures we read about yesterday. Closing off services simply because a postmaster reaches retirement age is not a sustainable business model and must be urgently addressed by An Post.”
“Míle buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as ucht a bheith anseo sa Seanad tráthnóna chun an t-ábhar fíorthábhachtach seo a phlé. I welcome the opportunity to discuss our post office network and how we can all support what is not just an important network for communications, business and the State, but a network that connects our communities right across the country, serving as a focal point of villages and towns in both urban and rural settings. It is with great concern that we read yesterday of the news that more than 250 post offices have closed over the past ten years. These closures have undoubtedly affected communities around Ireland. Indeed, in my own area in Dublin South-Central, the closure of the Bluebell post office continues to be a significant issue in the lives of people living in the area.”
“It would be unacceptable for us in Ireland to lag behind and not follow suit as regards what is being done in this area. I stress the right to privacy and compassion, even if it means forcing compassion from line managers, employees or others who do not exhibit it by nature. I will end with a quote from the WHO: "Pregnancy must be a positive experience for mothers and babies - when that isn't possible, then women deserve our empathy, respect and support."”
“If you get access to some kind of medical leave, how can one trust an employer will not discriminate against you in the workplace when it comes to career opportunities and progression? If you are negatively affected, how can you be "empowered", as the World Health Organization advises, to make further decisions about ever having a child? Assuming the appropriate legislative vehicle is identified, I support the premise of the Bill to introduce five days of paid leave to an employee who experiences pregnancy loss and two and a half days of paid leave to an employee who is parent to a pregnancy loss. I also support the establishment of a confidential opt-in register of pregnancy loss. As Senator Ryan noted, this week the UK put on record its intention to introduce a statutory right to bereavement leave, including for miscarriage.”